332 



MUSCLES AND FASCIJE. 



dicularly upon the head of the tibia, thus maintaining the entire weight of the 

 body. The Kectus muscle assists the Psoas and Iliacus in supporting the pelvis 

 and trunk upon the femur, or in bending it forwards. 



Fig. 188. Muscles of the Internal Femoral 

 Region. ' 



INTEENAL FEMOEAL 



Gracilis. 

 Pectineus. 

 Adductor Longus. 

 Adductor Brevis. 

 Adductor Magnus. 



Dissection. These muscles are at once ex- 

 posed by removing the fascia from the fore part 

 and inner side of the thigh. The limb should 

 be abducted, so as to render the muscles tense, 

 and easier of dissection. 



The Gracilis is the most superficial 

 muscle on the inner side of the thigh. It 

 is thin and flattened, broad above, narrow 

 and tapering below. It arises by a thin 

 aponeurosis between two and three inches 

 in breadth, from the inner margin of the 

 ramus of the pubes and ischium. The 

 fibres pass vertically downwards, and 

 terminate in a rounded tendon which 

 passes behind the internal condyle of the 

 femur ; curving round the inner tubero- 

 sity of the tibia, it becomes flattened, 

 and is inserted into the upper part of the 

 inner surface of the shaft of the tibia, 

 below the tuberosity. The tendon of 

 this muscle is situated immediately above 

 that of the Semi-tendinosus, and beneath 

 the aponeurosis of the Sartorius, with 

 which it is in part blended. As it passes 

 across the internal lateral ligament of the 

 knee-joint, it is separated from it by a 

 synovial bursa common to it and the Semi- 

 tendinosus muscle. 



delations. By its superficial surface, 

 with the fascia lata and the Sartorius 

 below ; the internal saphenous vein crosses 

 it obliquely near its lower part, lying 

 superficial to the fascia lata. By its d<-?p 

 surface, with the three Adductors, 'and 

 the internal lateral ligament of the knee- 

 joint. 



The Pectineus is a flat quadrangular 

 muscle, situated at the anterior part of 

 the upper and inner aspect of the thigh. 

 It arises from the linea ilio-pectinea, from 

 the surface of bone in front of it, between 

 the pectineal eminence and spine of the 

 pubes, and from a tendinous prolongation 

 of Gimbernat's ligament, which is attached 



