POPLITEAL SPACE ' 



behind the lateral epicondyle; the two others, behind the medial 

 epicondyle, making the borders of a deep space the popliteal 

 space, or ham. They are called "hamstring" tendons. 



f Lateral side, biceps femoris. 



Hamstring tendons. 



Medial side 



The popliteus is a flat muscle behind the knee- 

 joint, forming part of the floor of the popliteal space. 



The most important muscles in the me- 

 dial side of the thigh are the four adductors 

 (Fig. 94). 



The adductor longus. Origin. From the su- 

 perior ramus of the pubes. Insertion. The mid- 

 dle of the linea aspera. 



The adductor brevis. Origin. Upper part of 

 the pubic arch. Insertion. The linea aspera be- 

 hind and above the longus. 



The adductor minimus. Origin. The lower 

 part of the pubic arch. Insertion. The linea 

 aspera, behind the brevis (upper part). 



The adductor magnus. Origin. Pubic arch 

 and tuber of the ischium. Insertion. Linea as- 

 pera (behind the others), and medial epicondyle. 



Action of the four.- They all adduct the 

 femur (rotating it outward) and draw the 

 thighs together as in horseback riding. 



Nerve to the four. Obturator, and great sciatic to 

 a portion of adductor magnus. 



Note. The magnus makes a broad sheet of mus- 

 cle between the quadriceps which extends the knee, 

 and the muscles on the back which flex it. The 

 longest and strongest fibers of the magnus run between 

 the tuber of the ischium and the medial epicondyle. 

 They rotate the femur inward. 



semitendinosus. 

 semimembranosus. 

 sartorius. 

 gracilis. 



FIG. 94. ADDUCTORS. 

 i, 2, 3, Femur, ilium, 

 pubes; 4, external obtu- 

 rator muscle; 5, 6, 7, 8, 

 9, 10, adductor muscles; 

 ii, 12, openings for ves- 

 sels passing to back part 

 of thigh. (Sappey.) 



MUSCLES OF THE LEG 



Anterior 



These muscles flex the ankle and extend the toes. 1 

 The muscles in the front of the leg are between the tibia and the 



1 Note. These movements are dorsal flexion. 



