166 MUSCLE TISSUE 



from the body of the pubis below the crest and near 

 the angle; insertion, inner lip of the linea aspera, united 

 to the vastus internus in front and adductor magnus 

 behind. 



Gracilis. Origin, inner margin of pubic bone and a 

 portion of its inferior ramus ; thin and flat, then narrow 

 and thicker. A round tendon in the lower third of the 

 thigh, curving forward below, inserted into the inner 

 side of the tibia just above the semitendinosus, and 

 covered by the sartorius. 



Adductor Brevis. Origin., body and inferior ramus of 

 the pubis below the adductor longus, between the gra- 

 cilis and obturator externus; insertion, into the whole 

 line from the small trochanter to the linea aspera 

 behind the pectineus. It lies between the adductor 

 magnus and longus. 



Adductor Femoris Minimus. This is what is de- 

 scribed with the adductor magnus, usually as its 

 anterior and superior portion. Origin, body of the 

 pubis and ischiopubic rami; insertion, femur, in a line 

 from the quadratus femoris to the upper end of the 

 linea aspera, and a short distance along it. 



Adductor Magnus. Origin, ischial ramus internal 

 to the above muscle and outer half of the triangular 

 space on the posterior inferior surface of the tuberosities 

 of the ischii; fibers pass in two layers, one to the inner 

 lip of the linea aspera, and the other on the inner side 

 of the opening for the femoral vessels by a distinct 

 rounded tendon to insert on the adductor tubercle on 

 the inner condyle of the femur. The femoral attach- 

 ment is interrupted by three or four tendinous arches 

 for the perforating arteries. 



Actions. All adduct the thigh. Pectineus, adductor 

 longus and brevis flex the hip, while part of adductor 

 magnus from the ischial tuberosity to the condyle 

 may extend the thigh and rotate in. Gracilis flexes 

 the knee and rotates the leg inward. Adductors and 

 opponens, the gluteals, balance the body in walking. 



