MUSCLES OF THE POSTEEIOE LIMBS. 289 



cavity, at the entrance to the pelvis ; afterwards, inside the thigh ; it is 

 oblique from above to below, behind to before, and within to without. 



Structure. It is formed of parallel muscular fibres, and terminates, 

 inferiorly, by an aponeurosis which is confounded with that of the short 

 adductor. 



Attachments. It originates, superiorly, from the inferior face of the iliac 

 fascia near the tendon of the psoas parvus, and is inserted, by means of its 

 terminal aponeurosis, not on the supero-internal tuberosity of the tibia, 

 but on the internal patellar ligament, in common with the short adductor. 



'Relations. It is covered by the crural aponeurosis and Poupart's liga- 

 ment, and covers the iliacus, psoas magnus, the anterior femoral nerve, and 

 the internal vastus. Superiorly, its inner border forms the limit, with the 

 pectineus and the anterior border of the short adductor, to a triangular space 

 occupied by the crural vessels ; below this space the two adductors of the 

 leg are closely adherent to each other. 



Action. It adducts the leg, and flexes the femur. 



2. Short Adductor of the Leg. (Fig. 130, 9.) 

 Synonyms. Subpubio-tibialis Girard. ( GracilisPercivall. Pubio^tibiaUs Leyh.) 



Form Situation Direction. A large quadrilateral muscle, thin at its 

 borders, situated inside the thigh in an oblique direction downwards and 

 outwards. It forms the base of what is called the flat of the thigh. 



Structure. Formed of parallel muscular fibres, which extend from its 

 superior to its inferior border, this muscle is tendinous at its origin, is 

 covered by an albugineous layer, and terminates inferiorly in a wide 

 aponeurosis. 



Attachments. It originates, by the whole extent of its superior border, 

 from the ischio-pubic symphysis, and is confounded with the muscle of the 

 opposite side origin. Its terminal aponeurosis, united with that of the 

 long adductor, is inserted on the internal patellar ligament and the internal 

 face of the tibia movable insertion; posteriorly, it is confounded with the 

 aponeurosis of the semitendinosus, and with it forms the tibial aponeurosis 

 enveloping the tibial muscles. 



Relations. Its superficial face is covered by a cellulo-fibrous layer, and 

 by the saphena vessels and nerves. It covers, by its deep face, the pectineus, 

 the adductors of the thigh, the semimembranosus and semitendinosus, and 

 the internal femoro-tibial ligament. It is traversed at its origin, and 

 altogether in front, by a very large venous branch. 



Action. An adductor of the limb and a tensor of the tibial aponeu- 

 rosis. 



3. Pectineus. (Fig. 130, 11.) 



Synonyms. Superpubio-femoralis Girard. Its anterior branch corresponds to the 

 pectineus, and the posterior to the middle adductor in -Man. (Anterior pubio-femoralis 

 Leyli.) 



Situation Direction Form. Situated beneath the preceding, in an 

 oblique direction downwards, forwards, and outwards, this muscle is conoid, 

 thick, and bifid at its superior extremity, contracted at its inferior extremity. 



Structure and Attachments. Its fasciculi arise either from the anterior 

 border and inferior surface of the pubis, or from the surface of the pubio- 

 femoral ligament, which passes between its two branches; fixed insertion. 

 They are enveloped, at their inferior extremity, by a tendinous cone, which 



