

760 MUSCLES OF THE THIGH. 



riband-like from the pelvis to the leg, and being the inner 

 muscle of the thigh, forms at its lower part a round tendon, 

 which goes behind the internal condyle and head of the 

 tibia, and then curves forward beneath the tendon of the 

 sartorius to be inserted at the lower and lateral part of 

 the tubercle of the tibia. Function. To flex the leg; also 

 to adduct it. 



The pectineus or pectinalis (Fig. 249) arises fleshy from 

 the upper concave surface of the pubis, forms a short, flat, 

 triangular muscle, situated at the inner and upper part of 

 the thigh, and is inserted tendinous into the linea aspera, 

 just below the trochanter minor, function. To turn the 

 thigh inward and forward. 



The triceps adductor femoris (Fig. 249) consists of three 

 portions, viz : 



The adductor longus which arises from the anterior upper 

 surface of the pubes between its spine and symphysis by a 

 short round tendon forms a flat, triangular muscle, situ- 

 ated between the gracilis and pectinalis, and is inserted 

 broad into the middle third of the linea aspera. Func- 

 tion. To bring the thigh inward and forward. 



The adductor brevis arises tendinous from the anterior 

 lower surface of the pubes, is beneath the adductor longus 

 and pectinalis,*and goes to be inserted into the superior 

 third of the linea aspera. Function. The same as the last- 



The adductor magnus arises fleshy from the descending 

 ramus of the pubis, and ram us of the ischium as far as its 

 tuberosity, covering the surface between the thyroid fora- 

 men and margin of the bone. It is much the largest and 

 longest of the adductors, and is inserted fleshy and tendi- 

 nous into the whole of the linea aspera, and by a round 

 tendon continued into the internal condyle of the femur. 



Function. The same as the last. 



MUSCLES ON THE POSTERIOR THIGH. 



Dissection. Make a longitudinal incision along the mid- 

 dle of the back of the thigh, and a transverse one at the 

 centre. 



