472 



A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



Insertion. — (i) The inner side of the gluteal ridge of the femur ; 

 (2) the inner lip of the linea aspera, and the upper part of the internal 

 supracondylar ridge for fully i inch ; and (3) the adductor tubercle, 

 by means of a narrow, round tendon which gives a fibrous expansion 

 to the internal supracondylar ridge below the femoral groove. 



Nerve- supply. — The posterior or deep division of the obturator 

 nerve. The postero-inferior part of the muscle, representing the 

 fibres which arise from the tuber ischii, is supplied by the branch of 

 the great sciatic nerve to the semimembranosus. 



Action. — The muscle is a powerful adductor of the thigh. The 

 part inserted into the shaft of the femur also acts as an external 

 rotator of the thigh, and the part extending from the tuber ischii to 

 the adductor tubercle as an extensor of the hip-joint. 



The adductor magnus is triangular or fan-shaped. The upper- 

 most fibres are hori- 

 zontal ; the succeeding 

 fibres are oblique ; and 

 those which arise from 

 the tuber ischii are al- 

 most vertical. The part 

 of the muscle which is 

 inserted into the inner vastus 

 side of the gluteal ridge intemus-- 

 usually forms a distinct 

 portion, which is tri- 

 angular in shape, and 

 is sometimes called the 

 adductor minimus. The 

 insertion of the muscle 

 into the shaft of the 

 femur is interrupted by 

 four tendinous arches, 

 which give passage to 

 the perforating branches 

 of the arteria profunda 

 femoris. Between the 

 tendon which descends 

 to the adductor tubercle 



and the part of the muscle which is inserted into the upper 

 end of the internal supracondylar ridge there is an aperture, 

 called the femoral opening, for the passage of the superficial 

 femoral vessels. It is triangular, with the apex rounded off, 

 and is tendinous in front, but fleshy behind. It is of larger size 

 than is necessary for the passage of the vessels, being so adapted 

 that the vessels are not in any way interfered with during the 

 action of the muscle. The muscle supports the adductor brevis, 

 adductor longus, and posterior or deep division of the obturator 

 nerve. Its posterior surface is related to the hamstring muscles 

 and the great sciatic nerve. 



Patella. - 



Tibia 



Sartorius 



Gracilis 

 Semimembranosus 



Semitendiiiosus 



Gastrocnemiuis 



Fig. 231.— The Tendons of the Inner Side 

 OF THE Knee. 



