THE THIGH. 



259 



CUT OF THE MUSCLES OF THE INSIDE OF THE THIGH. 



muscles, the external and 

 internal. They proceed, 

 the external from the 

 outer surface of the upper 

 bone of the thigh ; the 

 internal from the inner 

 surface ; and are inserted 

 into the upper part of 

 the bone of the stifle, both 

 on the inner and outer 

 side. These muscles act 

 at considerable mechani- 

 cal disadvantage ; they 

 form a very slight angle, 

 not at all approaching to 

 a right angle ; but they 

 are muscles of immense 

 size, and occupy all the 

 fore part of the thigh, 

 from the stifle upwards. 

 They are powerful ex- 

 tensors of the thigh, and 

 of the hinder leg gene- 

 rally, for they are all in- 

 serted into the bone of 

 the knee, and that is con- 

 nected by strong tendons 

 with the bone of the true 

 leg. We shall have more 

 to say of the action of 

 this muscle when we have 

 described the bone of the 

 knee. 



On the inside of the thigh are several other large fleshy muscles, as distinct 

 to the eye as these, and which will be recognized after the slightest observa- 

 tion of the thigh of the living horse. First, we have a long, narrow, promment 

 muscle, the sartorius, or tailor's muscle, enabling him to sit cross-legged 

 d, arising from the edge of the haunch-bone, about half way downit and 

 inserted into the inner and upper part of the lower bone of the thigh, for 

 thus we call this bone extending from the stifle to the hock and which in the 

 human being would be properly the leg. It bends the eg, and turns it 

 inward, not useful in the latter case in progression, but m many ot the 



natural actions of the horse. „„„„v^,.^.^ 



Next comes abroad thin muscle, e, which cannot be nnstaken, occupying 

 the greater portion of the surface of the inner part of the thigh, and parti- 

 culady the prominent part of it. It is called the gracilis, or slender 

 muscle. It arises from Ithe lower part of ^^^ haunph-bone, a d, i its 

 passage downward, uniting with the last '^^f\'^'^''''f.Z^^^^^ 

 the inner and upper part of the lower bone of the thigh. .}' ^^'I'^lll'^;, 

 leg. If its direction be considered, it acts with evident a—ge 

 but its insertion into the bone of the lower bone of he t^iigh ^s very d,s 

 advantageous. It applies its power very close to the ^^'fj^.^^^ll?l 

 motion,\nd the weight, consisting of the whole limb, and which may be 

 supposed to be concentrated about its middle, is tar distani. ^ ^ 



