348 THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 
the ilio-tibial band), and partly into the gluteal ridge. The fascia lata receives 
the whole of the superficial fibres of the muscle and the upper half of the deep 
fibres. The lower half of the deep portion of the muscle is inserted for the most 
part into the gluteal ridge ; but the lowest fibres of all are inserted into fascia lata, 
and are thereby connected with the external intermuscular septum and the origin 
of the short head of the biceps. 
The gluteus maximus is the coarsest and heaviest muscle in the body. By its 
weight it helps to form the fold of the nates. It is superficial in its whole extent. 
The gluteus medius is visible 
at its upper border, covered 
by the fascia lata; at its 
ee eRANCLE lower border the hamstring 
muscles and great sciatic 
nerve appear on their way 
down the thigh. The muscle 
conceals the bones from 
ascia lata = which it arises, along with 
the great sciatic ligament, 
the ischial tuberosity, and 
the great trochanter. It 
also conceals the gluteus 
medius and pyriformis, with 
a branch of the gluteal 
artery between them; the 
obturator internus and 
gemelh, with the sciatic 
vessels and nerves, the pudic 
vessels and nerves, and the 
muscular branches of the 
sacral plexus above them, 
and the obturator externus 
Great seiatie @0d a branch of the internal 
nerve circumflex artery below 
hay cers them; thequadratus femoris 
and upper part of the ad- 
ductor magnus, with the 
internal circumflex artery 
between them. It covers 
the origins of the hamstring muscles, and by its insertion into the fascia lata, the 
vastus externus. The first perforating artery pierces the attachment of the 
muscle to the gluteal ridge. Three burs are beneath it: one (not always present) 
over the tuberosity of the ischium, a second over the outer side of the great 
trochanter, and a third over the vastus externus. The fibres of the gluteus 
maximus arising from the coceyx may form a separate muscle (agitator caudee). 
The tensor fasciz femoris (m. tensor fascize late), lying on the same plane as 
the gluteus maximus, arises from the dorsum ilii external to the anterior superior 
spine and from the upper part of the notch below it. Invested like the gluteus 
maximus by the fascia lata, it is inserted about the level of the great trochanter of 
the femur into the fascia, forming the ilio-tibial band. 
The tensor fasciz femoris muscle is superficially placed, and is isolated in a 
strong investment of the fascia lata, the deeper layer of which is prolonged on to the 
tendon of the rectus femoris and the capsule of the hip-joint. The muscle is placed 
along the anterior borders of the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, and conceals 
Vertebral 
aponeurosis 
GRACILIS 
| 
ADDUCTOR MAGNUS l 
SEMIMEMBRANOSUS 
SEMITENDINOSUS 
Fig. 256.—THe GLuteus Maximus Moscur. 
branches of the gluteal and external circumflex vessels and the termination of the” 
superior gluteal nerve. The sartorius muscle is adjacent to it anteriorly at its 
origin, and is separated below by the rectus femoris. 
The gluteus medius arises (1) from the dorsum ilii, between the iliac 
crest and the superior curved line above and the middle curved line below, and (2) 
from the strong fascia lata covering its surface anteriorly. It is a fan-shaped 
1 
