60 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



while in the gibbon the two vasti muscles are permitted 

 to approximate to each other at the upper end of the 

 popliteal space by reason of the restricted insertion of the 

 adductor magnus, and the similarly curtailed origin of the 

 femoral head of the biceps flexor cruris. 



The Hmbs were those of an adult female subject in process of 

 dissection in the Practical Anatomy Room of the University of 

 Edinburgh. The following appearances were noted in the right 

 lower limb : — 



Adductor Mag^ius Muscle. — The rounded tendon of insertion of 

 the ischial segment of this muscle became fused with the internal 

 supracondyloid septum, close to the termination of the femoral 

 artery. This union was maintained as far as the internal condyle 

 of the femur, into the inner surface of which the tendon was inserted 

 between the adductor tubercle and the origin of the inner head of 

 the gastrocnemius muscle. The fleshy insertion of the pubic section 

 of the muscle was continued downwards from the lower end of the 

 linea aspera to the popliteal surface of the femur, and extended on 

 the inner side of the vertical mid-popliteal line to a point 4*5 cm. 

 from the margin of the intercondyloid notch. Some fibres of this 

 part of the muscle were inserted into the posterior aspect of the 

 internal supracondyloid septum, under cover of the commencement 

 of the popliteal artery, and thereby an oval opening 4 cm. in length 

 was formed for the transmission of the vessels from the inner side 

 of the thigh to the popliteal space. This opening was therefore 

 situated within the adductor magnus muscle, rather than in an 

 interval between the respective insertions of its fundamental pubic 

 and ischial segments. Moreover, the vessels were separated from 

 direct contact with the shaft of the femur by the interposed 

 muscular fibres. 



BiGe2ys Flexor Cruris Muscle. — The short or femoral head of this 

 muscle had a very extensive origin. In addition to its attachment 

 to the linea aspera, it extended as high as the gluteal impression, 

 while inferiorly its origin from the external supracondyloid ridge 

 and septum reached to within 6*5 cm. of the intercondyloid 

 notch. 



Gastrocnemius Muscle. — This muscle presented three heads of 

 origin : — The inner head arose from the popliteal surface of the 

 femur close above the internal condyle ; from the upper and back 

 part of the same condyle ; from the posterior aspect of the tendon 

 of the adductor magnus, and from the adjacent part of the supra- 

 condyloid ridge and septum. The middle head arose by a distinct 

 tendon attached to a tubercle on the popliteal surface of the femur, 

 situated immediately above and to the outer side of the origin of 

 the inner head. The upper limit of this origin was 2 cm. distant 

 from the lower end of the fleshy insertion of the adductor magnus. 

 After an independent course of about 5 cm., this small slip joined 

 the inner head. The outer head arose with the plantaris muscle 



