340 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



Origin. By two short tendons, one from the upper and the other from 

 the under surface of the ilium in front of the hip-joint. 



Insertion. Into the upper and anterior part of the patella. 



Action. To flex the femur on the pelvis and extend the tibia or lower 

 thigh on the stifle. 



Vastus Externus. A fleshy muscle covering the whole of the outer 

 surface of the thigh-bone. 



Origin. From the outer surface and front of the femur. 



Insertion. Into the upper and outer part of the patella or " knee-cap" 

 of the stifle-joint. 



Action. To extend the tibia or lower thigh-bone on the femur. 



Vastus Internus. A thick fleshy muscle lying on the inner face of 

 the thigh-bone. 



Origin. From the internal surface and front of the femur. 



Insertion. Into the upper part of the patella and its internal lateral 

 ligament. 



Action. To extend the tibia on the femur. 



RectUS Parvus. A small short muscle placed in front of the hip- 

 joint immediately in contact with the capsular ligament. 



Origin. From the ilium above and in front of the joint. It passes 

 between the vastus extern us and internus. 



Insertion. Into the superior part of the femur in front. 



Biceps Feittoris. A long, thick, fleshy muscle extending from the 

 superior part of the croup to the stifle. It is narrow above and widens out 

 below, where it is divided into three segments. 



Origin. From the superior spines of the sacrum, the sacro-sciatic liga- 

 ment, the gluteal and coccygeal fascia, and the tuberosity of the ischium. 



Insertion. By the three lower divisions: (l) Into the anterior part of 

 the patella or knee-cap; (2) into the crest of the tibia; (3) into the fascia 

 of the leg. 



This muscle is maintained in its position behind the femur by a strong 

 band of connective tissue which attaches it to the upper and posterior part 

 of that bone. 



Action. It flexes the tibia or leg-bone on the femur, and, acting with 

 its fellow on the opposite side, it assists in supporting and balancing the 

 body in the act of rearing. 



The SemitendinoSUS. Situated immediately behind the biceps. A 

 long fleshy muscle arising by two heads, and extending from the summit of 

 the haunch to the superior part of the tibia. 



Origin. By one head from the spines of the sacrum and the sacro- 

 sciatic ligament, and by the other from the tuberosity of the ischium. 



