ADDUCTOR MAGNUS MUSCLE. 167 



The ADDUCTOR MA<;XUS (fig. 62, E) is triangular in form, with Adductor 

 its base directed upwards, one side being attached to the femur, and ina s nus ' 

 the other free at the inner side of the thigh. 



The -muscle arises from the conjoined rami of the ptibis and origin is 

 ischium along their inner margin, and from the lower impression on na 

 the ischial tuberosity (fig. 47, p. 113). The anterior fibres diverge diverge to 

 from their origin, being horizontal above but more oblique below, their iser- 

 and are inserted into the back of the femur, from above downwards, some ^ ins 

 along the inner side of the gluteal ridge, into the linea aspera, and horizontal, 

 into the internal supracondylar line for about an inch (fig. 61, 

 p. 158). The posterior fibres, from the ischial tuberosity, are 

 vertical in direction, and end at the lower third of the thigh in a 

 tendon, which is inserted into the inner cond} r le of the femur, 

 surrounding the adductor tubercle, and is connected by a fibrous 

 expansion to the lower part of the internal supracondylar line. 



The muscle consists of two parts, which differ in their characters, and form 

 The anterior (p^^bic\ thin and fleshy, forms a septum between the " opa 3> 

 other adductors and the muscles on the back of the thigh ; but the 

 posterior (ischial) piece, partly fleshy and partly tendinous, con- 

 stitutes the inner thick margin of the muscle. On the anterior 

 surface are the other two adductors and the pectineus, with the Relations of 

 obturator nerve and the profunda vessels. The posterior surface s " 

 touches the hamstring muscles and the great sciatic nerve. In and borders, 

 contact with the upper border are the obturator externus and the 

 quadratus femoris, with the transverse branch of the internal cir- 

 cumflex vessels ; and along the inner border lie the gracilis and the 

 sartorius. At its attachment to the femur the muscle is closely united 

 with the other adductors, particularly the adductor longus, and in. 

 its lowest part with the vastus internus. Near the bone it is pierced 

 by apertures for the passage of the femoral and perforating 

 arteries. 



Action. This muscle is a powerful adductor ; and the part arising trse on ^ 

 from the tuberosity is also an extensor of the hip. In standing, the . 

 latter part of the muscle, acting from the femur, has an important 

 influence in steadying the hip-joint ; and in walking, the great and m 

 other adductors co-operate with the gluteal muscles externally, to 

 support the pelvis on the fixed limb. 



The opening in the adductor for the transmission of the superficial Opening for 

 femoral vessels into the popliteal space is tendinous at the anterior, tb 

 but fleshy at the posterior aspect. It is situate at the junction of 

 the upper three-fourths with the lowest fourth of the thigh, and is 

 larger than is necessary for the passage of the vessels. On the 

 outside it is bounded by the vastus internus ; and on the inside by boundaries, 

 the tendon of the adductor rnagnus, with some fibres added from the 

 tendon of the long adductor. 



The PSOAS and ILIACUS (fig. 62) arise separately in the abdomen, Psoas and 

 but are united in the thigh, the conjoined portion of the muscles t^e thigh : 

 lying beneath Poupart's ligament. The psoas (P) is inserted by insertion 

 tendon into the small trochanter of the femur; and the fleshy into femur > 

 iliacus (o) mainly joins the tendon of the psoas, but a few of its 



