MUSCLES OF THE POSTERIOR LIMBS. 



847 



Relations. — Its upper face responds to the middle gluteus ; the inferior 

 covers the coxo-femoral articulation, and strongly adheres to the fibrous capsule 

 of that joint. This face is also separated from the rectus parvus and the origin 

 of the rectus femoris by a very strong fibrous layer, which extends from the 

 external border of the ilium to the base of the trochanter major. Its posterior 

 border is in relation with the anterior gemellus of the pelvis. 



Fig. 194. 



SITPERFICIAL MUSCLES OF THE CROUP AND THIGH. 



1, Middle gluteus, or gluteus maximus ; 2, anterior spinous process of ilium; 3, muscle of the 

 fascia lata, or tensor fascia latae ; 4, superficial gluteus, or gluteus externus ; *, great trochanter 

 of femur ; 5, fascia lata ; 6, patella, with insertion of rectus , 7, biceps femoris, or adductor 

 magnus ; 8, superior and, 9, lateral coccygeal muscles ; 10, semitendinosus and semimembranosus; 

 11, 12, triceps abductor femoris; 13, fascia of the thigh ; 14, vastus externus. 



Action. — It is the special abductor of the thigh, and is also an accessory 

 rotator of the femur inwards.^ (Leyh says it is a congener of the preceding 



' Lesbre is of opinion that the middle gluteus, such as it has been described here, com- 

 prises two superposed muscles which are distinct at their troclianterian insertion : the super- 

 ficial is the middle gluteus of Man, and the deep the small gluteus of anthropotomists. 

 Therefore the muscle we have described as the deep gluteal in the Horse has no representative 

 in Man. Leshre proposes to name it the abducens trochanterius. It should be the homotype 

 of the inferior branch of the infra-spinatus, which is also absent in man, and which it would be 

 reasonable to describe, by analogy, as the abducens trochiterius. 



