THE FEMORAL MUSCLES. 



633 



tendon of the muscle and the upper part of the great trochanter, and another (bursa 

 trochanterica ra. glutaei medii posterior) is usually present between the tendon and that 

 of the pyriformis. 



4. Gluteus Minimus (Figs. 601, 602). 



Attachments. — The gluteus minimus is the most deeply situated of the gluteal 

 muscles. It arises from the lateral surface of the ilium, between the middle and 

 inferior gluteal lines, and passes downward and laterally to a strong tendon which is 

 inserted into the anterior surface of the great trochanter of the femur. 



Nerve-Supply. — By the superior gluteal nerve from the fourth and fifth 

 lumbar and first sacral nerves. 



Action. — To abduct the thigh and, acting from below, to flex the pelvis 

 laterally. 



Relations. — Superficially it is covered by the gluteus medius and crossed by 

 the superior gluteal vessels and nerve. Deeply it rests upon the capsule of the hip- 

 joint. A bursa (bursa trochanterica m. glutaei minimi) is interposed between the 

 tendon and the great trochanter. 



Variations. — The anterior portion of the muscle is sometimes distinctly separated from 

 the rest, forming a muscle frequently present in the lower mammals and termed the scatisorius. 



THE FEMORAL MUSCLES. 



Many of the muscles which belong to this group extend the entire length of 

 the thigh, taking their origin, in whole or in part, from the pelvis. 



The Fascia Lata (Fig. 605). — This, the deep fascia of the thigh, is a 



Fig. 606. 



Rectus femoris 



Vastus ititernus 

 Crureus 



Femur 



Linea aspera, 

 external lip 



Perforating 

 artery 



Vastus externus 



Internal intermuscular septum 

 Sartorius 



Internal saphenous nerve 



Femoral vessels 



Internal saphenous vein 



Adductor longus 

 Hunter's canal 



Gracilis 



Deep fascia 

 Subcutaneous tissue 



Skin 

 External intermuscular septum 



Biceps, longhead Greater sciatic nerve Semitendinosus 

 Section across right thigh through Hunter's canal, seen from below. 



Deep femoral 



vessels 



Adductor magnus 



Semimem- 

 branosus 



Strong layer which completely encloses the muscles of the thigh and covers the glu- 

 teal region. Its upper attachment, beginning from behind, is to the coccyx and 

 sacrum ; thence forward along the entire length of the crest of the ilium and me- 



