1338 



SURFACE ANATOMY AND SURFACE MARKINGS 





Tensor fasciae latce 



Femoral triangle 



Sartorius 



are easily defined, although their heads do not form prominences; the plantar 

 surfaces are obscured by muscles. The phalanges in their whole extent are readily 

 palpable. 



Articulations. The hip-joint is deeply seated and cannot be palpated. 

 The interval between the tibia and femur can always be easily felt; if the knee- 

 joint be extended this interval is on a higher level than the apex of the patella, 

 but if the joint be slightly flexed it is directly behind the apex. When the knee 

 is semiflexed, the medial borders of the patella and of the medial condyle of 

 the femur, and the upper border of the medial condyle of the tibia, bound a tri- 

 angular depressed area which indicates the position of the joint. 



The ankle-joint can be felt on 

 either side of the Extensor tendons, 

 and during extension of the joint 

 the superior articular surface of 

 the talus presents below the ante- 

 rior border of the lower end of the 

 tibia. 



Muscles. Of the muscles of the 

 thigh, those of the anterior femoral 

 region (Fig. 1238) contribute largely 

 to surface form. The Tensor fasciae 

 latae produces a broad elevation 

 immediately below the anterior 

 part of the iliac crest and behind 

 the anterior superior iliac spine; 

 from its lower border a groove 

 caused by the iliotibial band ex- 

 tends downward to the lateral side 

 of the knee-joint. The upper por- 

 tion of Sartorius constitutes the 

 lateral boundary of the femoral 

 triangle, and, when the muscle is 

 in action, forms a prominent 

 oblique ridge which is continued 

 below into a flattened plane and 

 then gradually merges into a gen- 

 eral fulness on the medial side of 

 the knee-joint. When the Sarto- 

 rius is not in action, a depression 

 exists between the Quadriceps 

 femoris and the Adductors, and 

 extends obliquely downward and 

 medialward from the apex of the 

 femoral triangle to the side of the 



knee. In the angle formed by the divergence of Sartorius and Tensor fasciae 

 latse, just below the anterior superior iliac spine, the Rectus femoris appears, and 

 in a muscular subject its borders can be clearly defined when the muscle is in action. 

 The Vastus lateralis forms a long flattened plane traversed by the groove of the 

 iliotibial band. The Vastus medialis gives rise to a considerable prominence on 

 the medial side of the lower half of the thigh; this prominence increases toward 

 the knee and ends somewhat abruptly with a full curved outline. The Vastus 

 intermedius is completely hidden. The Adductores cannot be differentiated from 

 one another, with the exception of the upper tendon of Adductor longus and 

 the lower tendon of Adductor magnus. When the Adductor longus is in action its 



Quadriceps femoris 



Adductores 



Patella 



Tuberosity of tibia 



FIG. 1238. Front and medial aspect of right thigh. 



