410 



MUSCLES AND FASCIAE 



INTERNAL FEMORAL EEGION. 



Gracilis. Adductor Longus. 



Pectineus. Adductor Brevis. 



Adductor Magnus. 



255. Deep Muscles of the Internal 

 Femoral Region. 



Dissection. These muscles are at once exposed 

 by removing the fascia from the forepart and inner 

 side of the thigh. The limb should be abducted, 

 so as to render the muscles tense, and easier of dis- 

 section. 



The Gracilis (Figs. 254, 257) 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 in- 

 ner margin of the ramus of thepubesand 

 ischium. The fibres pass vertically down- 

 wards, and terminate in a rounded tendon 

 which passes behind the internal condyle 

 of the femur, and curving round the inner 

 tuberosity of the tibia, 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 Semitendinosus, 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 Semitendinosus 

 muscle. 



Relations. By its superficial surface, 

 with the fascia lata and the Sartorius be- 

 low; the internal saphenous vein crosses 

 it obliquely near its lower part, lying 

 superficial to the fascia lata. By its </" /> 

 surface, with the three Adductors, and 

 the internal lateral ligament of the knee- 

 joint. 



The Pectineus (Fig. 254) is a flat quad- 

 rangular muscle, situated at the anterior 

 part of the upper and inner aspect of the 

 thigh. It arises from the linea ilio-pecti- 

 nea, 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 to the crest of the pubes, 

 and is continuous with the fascia coveriim 

 the outer surface of the muscle ; the fibres 

 pass downwards, backwards, andoQtwards, 

 to be inserted into a rough line loading 

 from the trochanter minor to the linea 

 aspera. 



Relations. By its anterior surface, witli 

 the pubic portion of the fascia lata, which 



