340 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



Origin. — By two short tendons, one from the upper and the other from 

 the under surface of the ilium in front of the hip-joint. 



Insertion. — Into the upper and anterior part of the patella. 



Action. — To ilex the femur on the pelvis and extend the tiljia or lower 

 thigh on the stifle. 



Vastus Externus. — A fleshy muscle covering the whole of the outer 

 surface of the thigh-bone. 



Origin. — From the outer surface and front of the femur. 



Insertion. — Into the upper and outer part of the patella or " knee-cap " 

 of the stifle-joint. 



Action. — To extend the tibia or lower thioh-bone on the femur. 



Vastus Internus. — A thick fleshy muscle lying on the inner fece of 

 the thigh-bone. 



Origin. — From the internal suriace and front of the femur. 



Insertion. — Into the upper part of the patella and its internal lateral 

 ligament. 



Action. — To extend the tibia on the femur. 



Rectus Parvus. — A small short muscle placed in front of the hip- 

 joint immediately in contact with the capsular ligament. 



Origin. — From the ilium above and in front of the joint. It passes 

 between the vastus externus and internus. 



Insertion. — Into the superior part of the femur in front. 



Biceps FemOPis. — A long, thick, fleshy muscle extending from the 

 superior part of the croup to the stifle. It is narrow above and widens out 

 below, where it is divided into three segments. 



Origin. — From the superior spines of the sacrum, the sacro-sciatic liga- 

 ment, the gluteal and coccygeal fascia, and the tuberosity of the ischium. 



Insertion. — By the three lower divisions: (l) Into the anterior part of 

 the patella or knee-cap; (2) into the crest of the tibia; (3) into the fescia 

 of the leg. 



This muscle is maintained in its position behind the femur by a strong 

 band of connective tissue which attaches it to the upper and posterior part 

 of that bone. 



Action. — It flexes the tiliia or leg-bone on the femur, and, acting with 

 its fellow on the opposite side, it assists in supporting and balancing the 

 bodv in the act of rearing;. 



The SemitendinoSUS. — Situated immediately behind the biceps. A 

 long fleshy muscle arising by two heads, and extending from the summit of 

 the haunch to the superior part of the tibia. 



Origin. — By one head from the spines of the sacrum and the sacro- 

 sciatic ligament, and by the other from the tuberosity of the Ischium. 



