598 



DISSECTION OF THE THIGH. 



About its middle a tendinous intersection may be observed. It rests on 

 the semimembranosus, and on the internal lateral ligament of the knee- 

 joint. The outer border is in contact with the biceps as far as the popli- 



Fig. 203. 



Muscles : 



A. Glutens maximus, cut below, and partly 



raised. 



B. Quadratus femoris. 

 c. Adductor magnus. 



D. Biceps. 



E. Semitendinosus. 



f. Semimembranosus. 

 a. Outer, and 



H. Inner head of the gastrocnemius. 

 Arteries : 

 a. Small sciatic, cut. 



6. Ending- of internal circumflex to the 



hamstrings. 

 c. First, d, second, and e, third perforating 



of profunda. 



/. Muscular branch of profunda. 

 ff. Popliteal trunk. 

 h. Popliteal vein. 

 f. Short saphenous vein. 

 k. Upper external, and I, upper internal 



articular artery. 

 Nerves : 



1. Small sciatic. 



2. Large sciatic. 



3. Branch to hamstrings from large sciatic. 



4. External popliteal ; and 



5. Communicating peroneal. 



7. Articular branch of obturator to knee. 



8. Internal popliteal. 



9. Articular branch to knee of the internal 



popliteal. 

 10. Short saphenous. 



DISSECTION OF THB BACK OF THB THIGH (Illustrations of Dissections). 



teal space. As the tendon turns forwards to its insertion, an expansion 

 is continued from it to the fascia of the leg; and it is attached, Avith the 

 gracilis, below the level of the tubercle of the tibia, the two being separated 

 from the tendon of the sartorius by a bursa (p. 567). 



Action. If the leg is movable the muscle bends the knee ; and con- 

 tinuing to contract, rotates towards the tibia. Supposing the knee-joint 

 straight but the hip-joint bent, the femur can be depressed, and the hip 

 extended by the semitendinosus and the other hamstrings. 



Should the limbs be fixed on the ground, the muscle will assist in 

 balancing the pelvis, or in erecting the trunk from a stooping posture. 



The SEMIMEMBRANOSUS muscle (fig. 203, F ) is tendinous at both ends, 

 and its name is given from the membraniform appearance of the upper 



