446 MUSCLES. 



scent, and is mserted into the middle third of the linea aspera 

 at its inner edge. 



As the subject lies on its back, this muscle is uppermost; its 

 origin is between that x>f the pectinalis, and of the gracilis; its 

 upper edge is in contact with the lower edge of the pectinalis.* 



2. The Adductor Brevis is the smallest of the three ; it is situ- 

 ated beneath the adductor longus and pectinalis, and on the out- 

 side of the gracilis. It arises, by a rounded tendon, from the 

 middle front part of the pubes, between its symphysis and the 

 foramen thyroideum, just below the origin of the first adductor. 



It is inserted into the upper third of the inner edge of the li- 

 nea aspera, between the trochanter minor and the upper edge 

 of the adductor longus, by a flat thin tendon.f 



3. The Adductor Magnus is below the other two, and is by 

 far the largest. It arises, fleshy, from the lower part of the 

 body of the pubes and from its descending ramus, also from the 

 ascending ramus of the ischium as far as its tuberosity, occupy- 

 ing the whole bony surface between the foramen thyroideum 

 below, and the margin of the bone. 



It is inserted, fleshy, into the whole length of the linea aspe- 

 ra, and on its internal margin a tendon is gradually generated 

 which passes downwards to be inserted into the upper part of 

 the internal condyle of the os femoris, and, by a thin edge or 

 expansion, into the line leading from the linea aspera to the in- 

 ternal condyle. 



The adductor magnus separates the muscles on the anterior 

 from such as are on the posterior part of the thigh ; and its in- 

 sertion is closely connected with the origin of the vastus inter- 

 nus, the two surfaces adhering by a short and compact cellular 

 membrane. $ 



The three adductors contribute to the same end, that of draw- 



* Varieties. Occasionally this muscle is divided into two by a fissure, which 

 is of various lengths. Sometimes it is continued much lower down than usual by 

 means of a small tendon united to that of the adductor magnus. 



f- Varieties. It is also occasionally split, more or less fully, into two muscles 

 by a fissure, which, according to Meckel, establishes a remarkable analogy with 

 apes. 



$ Varieties. It also is occasionally divided into two portions, as in apes. 



