THE ANTERIOR FEMORAL REGION 225 



tendon is anterior above, then in centre of the muscle. From 

 this are pinnate fibers ending in an inferior tendon covering 

 the lower two-thirds of the posterior surface of the belly, and 

 leaving a median cleft in the muscle. The lower tendon becomes 

 free 3 inches above the patella ; is attached to the upper margin 

 of that bone, and helps form the common tendon. 



(6) The vastus externus (vastus lateralis, p. n.) is the outer 

 part of the quadriceps. Origin, narrow and aponeurotic from 

 the upper half of the anterior intertrochanteric line, outer 

 part of the root of the great trochanter, outer side of the gluteal 

 ridge, upper half of the outer lip of the linea aspera, from 

 external intermuscular septum, and a strong aponeurosis 

 extending over the upper two-thirds of the muscle. It rises 

 in a succession of layers, the upper overlapping the lower. 

 Aponeurosis of insertion occupies the deep surface of the muscle, 

 joins the common tendon, and sends expansion to the lateral 

 patellar ligaments and rectus tendon. 



(c and d) Vastus internus (vastus medialis, p. n.) and crureus 

 (femoralis, p. n.) seem to form one mass, but turn the rectus 

 tendon well down, and above the patella is an interval which 

 can be followed up between the two tendons on a line with 

 the lower end of the anterior intertrochanteric line. 



The vastus internus rises from a superficial aponeurosis 

 and deeper fibers from the spiral line, inner lip of the linea 

 aspera, and from tendons of the adductor longus and magnus; 

 they end in a deep aponeurosis which enters the common 

 tendon. Its muscular fibers pass lower than those of the exter- 

 nus, and are inserted into the inner margin of the patella, 

 some into the rectus tendon. 



Crureus, rises from upper two-thirds of the anterior surface 

 of the femur, outer surface of the femur in front of and below 

 the vastus externus, lower half of the external intermuscular 

 septum; fibers end in a superficial aponeurosis which forms 

 the deepest portion of the common tendon. They rise from 

 a series of transverse arches with intervening bare spaces on 

 the front of the femur. Between the crureus and the vastus 

 internus most of the internal surface of the bone is free. 



The common or suprapatellar tendon is inserted into the 

 forepart of the upper border of the patella, and a few fibers 

 are prolonged over its anterior surface into the ligamentum 

 patellae. 

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