MUSCLES ON THE ANTERIOR ASPECT OF THE THIGH. 407 



muscle. The vastus intermedius envelops the femur, and is concealed by the other 

 muscles. 



M. Rectus Femoris. The rectus 

 femoris has a double tendinous origin. (1) 

 The straight head arises from the inferior 

 anterior spine of the ilium (Fig. 366, p. 412) ; 

 (2) the reflected head springs from a rough 

 groove on the dorsum ilii just above the 

 highest part of the acetabulum (Fig. 366, 

 p. 412). A bursa lies beneath this head of 

 origin. The two heads, bound together and 

 connected to the capsule of the hip-joint by 

 a band of fascia derived from the deep 

 surface of the tensor fasciae latse (ilio-tibial 

 tract), give rise to a single tendon which 

 extends, for some distance, on the anterior 

 surface of the muscle, and from which the 

 muscular fibres arise. The muscular fibres 

 springing from this tendon, and also from 

 a median septal tendon, present a bipennate 

 arrangement, and end below in a broad 

 tendon which passes proximally, for some 

 distance, along the posterior surface of the 

 muscle. This tendon gradually narrows 

 towards the knee, and spreading out again, 

 is inserted into the proximal border of the 

 patella. It receives laterally and medially 

 parts of the insertions of the lateral and 

 medial vasti muscles, and on its deep surface 

 is joined by the insertion of the vastus intermedius. A bursa, which communi- 

 cates with the synovial membrane of the knee-joint, lies between the tendon and the 

 front of the distal end of the shaft of the femur. 



Vastus lateralis 

 (origin) 



FIG. 361. MUSCLE-ATTACHMENTS TO THE AN- 

 TERIOR SURFACE OF THE PROXIMAL PART OF 

 THE LEFT FEMUR. 



VASTUS MEDIALIS 



Saplienous nerv 

 Femoral vessels 

 SARTORIUS 



ADDUCTOR LONG 



ADDUCTOR MAGNUS 

 GRACIL 



RECTUS FEMORIS 



VASTUS LATERALIS 



VASTUS 

 INTERMEDIUS 



Femur 



BICEPS FEMORIS (short head) 



SEMIMEMBRANOSU 



BICEPS FEMORIS (long head) 



SEMITENDINOSUS 



Sciatic nerve 

 FIG. 362. TRANSVERSE SECTION OF THE THIGH (HUNTER'S ADDUCTOR CANAL). 



M. Vastus Lateralis. The vastus lateralis has an origin, partly fleshy, partly 

 membranous, from (1) the capsule of the hip-joint, (2) the tubercle of the femur, 

 (3) a concave area On the anterior surface of the shaft of the bone medial to the 



