MUSCLES OF THE POSTERIOE LIMBS. 291 



Action. This muscle is an adductor and flexor of the thigh, and more 

 particularly a rotator inwards of the same ray. 



4. Small Adductor of the Thigh. (Figs. 130, 12; 137, 14.) 



subpubio-femoralis 

 adc 



Situation Direction. This muscle is situated beneath the short ad- 

 ductor of the leg, between the pectineus and the great adductor of the thigh, 

 in an oblique direction downwards and outwards. 



Form Structure. It is flat from before backwards, thick and narrow at 

 its upper extremity, thin and wide inferiorly. Its muscular fibres are of a 

 pale-red colour, nearly parallel to each other, and sometimes very indistinct 

 superficially, at least from those belonging to the great adductor ; infe- 

 riorly, they become aponeurotic. 



Attachments. Above, to the inferior face of the pubis origin ; below, 

 to the roughened quadrilateral surface on the posterior aspect of the femur, 

 in common with the short branch of the great adductor termination. 



Relations. Inwards, with the short adductor of the leg ; outwards, with 

 the obturator externus : in front, with the pectineus ; behind, with the great 

 adductor of the thigh. 



5. Great Adductor of the Thigh. (Figs. 130, 12.) 



Synonyms. Posterior portion of the biceps femoralis of Bourgelat, and of the sub- 

 pubio-femoralis of Girard. (The adductor tongus, of Percivall. Posterior pubio-femoralis 

 Leyh.} 



Situation Direction. The great adductor is situated beneath the 

 preceding muscle, between the small adductor and the semimembranosus, 

 proceeding obliquely downwards and outwards. 



Form Structure. It is a long, thick, prismatic muscle, depressed from 

 before to behind, terminating, inferiorly, by two branches of unequal length, 

 and almost entirely composed of parallel muscular fibres, which are generally 

 distinguished from the fasciculi of the small adductor by their deeper 

 colour. 



Attachments. Above, to the lower face of the ischium and to the single 

 tendinous band which attaches the two muscles of the flat of the thigh to 

 the pelvic symphysis origin. Below : 1, By its external branch, the 

 thickest and shortest, to the quadrilateral scabrous surface on the posterior 

 face of the femur, outside the small adductor ; 2, By its internal branch, 

 the longest and thinnest, to the supero-internal condyle of the femur, in 

 common with the semimembranosus and the internal femoro-tibial ligament 

 termination. 



Relations. ITW&T&S, with the short adductor of the leg ; behind, with 

 the semimembranosus; in front, with the small adductor, the external 

 obturator, and the inferior extremity of the square crural muscle. Its 

 external border, thinner than the internal, partly covers the superior 



1 After mature deliberation, we have decided on describing as two muscles the biceps 

 femoralis of Bourgelat, and to give to them the names of small and great adductors of 

 the thigh, by which Bichat has designated the corresponding muscles in the lower 

 extremity of Mnn. We have thought it our duty, in this instance, to follow the example 

 given us by several German authors. 



