GLUTEAL REGION. 



413 



forms the prominence of the 

 nates. Its large size is one of 

 the most characteristic points 

 in the muscular system in 

 man, connected as it is with 

 the power he has of maintain- 

 ing the trunk in the erect pos- 

 ture. In structure the muscle 

 is remarkably coarse, being 

 made up of muscular fasciculi 

 lying parallel with one an- 

 other, and collected together 

 into large bundles, separated 

 by deep cellular intervals. It 

 arises from the superior curved 

 line of the ilium, and the por- 

 tion of bone including the 

 crest, immediately behind it ; 

 from the posterior surface of 

 the last piece of the sacrum, 

 the side of the coccyx, and 

 posterior surface of the great 

 sacro-sciatic and posterior sa- 

 cro-iliac ligaments. The fibres 

 are directed obliquely down- 

 wards and outwards; those 

 forming the upper and larger 

 portion of the muscle (after 

 converging somewhat) termi- 

 nate in a thick tendinous 

 lamina, which passes across 

 the great trochanter, and is 

 inserted into the fascia lata 

 covering the outer side of the 

 thigh, the lower portion of 

 the muscle being inserted into 

 the rough line leading from 

 the great trochanter to the 

 linea aspera between the Vas- 

 tus Externus and Adductor 

 Magnus. 



Three synovial lursse are 

 usually found separating the 

 under surface of this muscle 

 from the eminences which it 

 covers. One of these, of large 

 size, and generally multilocu- 

 lar, separates it from the great 

 trochanter. A second, often 

 wanting, is situated on the 

 tuberosity of the ischiurn. A 

 third is found between the 

 tendon of this muscle and the 

 Vastus Externus. 



Relations. By its superficial 

 surface, with a thin fascia, 

 which separates it from the 



Fig. 257. Muscles of the Hip and Thigh. 



