348 THE MUSCLES. 



muscb, and therefore an extensor of the thigh. It may also maintain the 

 capsular ligament tense.) 



Differential Characters in the Muscles of the Gluteal Region in the other 



Animals. 



A. Ruminants. — In the Ox, Sheep, and Goat, the two portions of the superficial gluteus 

 are less distinct than in Solipeds (see Fig. 197). They form one muscle, remarkably de- 

 veloped, the inner face of which has no point of attachment on the femur; it glides behind the 

 trochanter by means of a vast bura;i, which is often the seat of pathological alterations — 

 synovial tumours which constitute the swellings or gout of the larger Ruminants. Another 

 synovial bursa, liable to tlie same malaiiies, covers the patellar tendon of the muscle on its 

 passage over the external condyle of the femur, and facilitates its gliding on that bony 

 eminence. Before joining the external patellar ligament, this tendon shows a very thick, 

 fibro-cartilaginous enlargement, and receives some of the fibres of the external vastus. 



Another arrangement in this muscle, which it is essential to recognize in a surgical point 

 of view, is the union of the anterior border of the superficial gluteus oi the Ox with the /a«aaZato, 

 the two layers of which comprise that muscle between them, and closely adhere to each of 

 its faces. It very frequently happens tiiat, in emaciated cattle, this fascia is ruptured at the 

 trochanter, and the latter, instead of gliding on the inner face of the superficial gluteus, slips 

 before its anterior border to pass through tlie solution of continuity, where it is fixed so firmly 

 that it is sometimes necessary to cut across the fibres of the muscle in order to give the limb 

 liberty of movement. 



The middle gluteus, not so thick as in the Horse, is not prolonged so far forward on the 

 longissimus dorsi ; and, on the contrary, the deep gluteus, more developed than in Solipeds, is 

 readily divisible into two portions, of which Rigot has made two distinct gluteals. In the 

 Camel, the middle gluteus does not go beyond the border of the ilium in front. The posterior 

 portion of the superficial gluteus has an attachment to the external border of the femur. 



B. Pig. — The gluteal muscles of this animal resemble those of the Sheep, though the 

 posterior portion of the superficial gluteus does not always have a bursa for its passage over the 

 external condyle of the femur. 



C. Carnivora. — The superficial gluteus, in its general arrangement, resembles that of 

 Man ; its posterior portion, which is scarcely distinct, arises from the sacrum, and terminates, 

 by an aponeurosis, below and behind the trochanter major. This aponeurosis receives, in front, 

 a small fleshy band, which arises by tendinous fibres from the surface of the middle gluteus, 

 next the external angle of the ilium. In these animals, also, the middle gluteus does not go 

 beyond the lumbar border of the ilium, and terminates behind by a single branch. 



Comparison of the Gluteal Muscles of Man with those of Animals. 

 The gluteal muscles are distinguished, in regard to their volume, into great, medium, and 

 small (see note, p. 230). 



The medium gluteus does not extend beyond the crest of the ilium in front. 

 With regard to the gluteus mazimus, it is inserted inwardly into the sacrum and the coccyx ; 

 below, into the external bifurcation of the linea aspera, from the trochanter major to the middle 

 third of the femur, as in Solipeds. 



The gluteus parvus is proportionately more extensive than in the Horse. 

 • 



Muscles of the Thigh. 



These have been divided into three secondary regions, which are : the 

 anterior femoral or patellar, t\ie posterior femoral, and the internal femoral region. 



A. Anterioe Femoral Region. 



This region comprises three muscles situated in front of the femur : the 

 muscle of the fascia lata, the crural triceps, and the gracilis. 



Preparation. — 1. Place the subject in the first position. 2. Study the fascia lata muscle 

 immediately after removing the skin from tliis region. 3. Take away this muscle and the 

 superficial gluteus, the semitendinosis and semimembranosis, the two adductors of the leg, 

 the pectineus, and the two adductors of the thigh, to expose the three portions of the triceps. 

 Separate these three muscular divisions from one another, commencing above where they 

 are scarcely adherent. Dissect the gracilis at the same time. 



