MYOLOGY 193 



to be inserted into the pisiform bone. It proceeds there- 

 fore from the inner side of the elbow to the outer side 

 of the upper part of the hand ; it consequently crosses the 

 posterior surface of the forearm obliquely. This is why, as 

 we have pointed out above, it receives the name of the 

 oblique flexor of the metacarpus. 



It is not unprofitable to recall in this connection that 

 there is an internal flexor of the metacarpus, which is the 

 flexor carpi radialis ; and an external flexor of the meta- 

 carpus, which is the posterior ulnar (in human anatomy, 

 extensor carpi ulnaris). It is between these two muscles 

 that we find the oblique flexor— the anterior ulnar which we 

 have just been studying. 



This muscle flexes the hand on the forearm. 

 Superficial Flexor of the Digits [Flexor digitorum sub- 

 limis) (Fig. 76, 12 ; Fig. jy, 10, 10). — This muscle arises from 

 the epitrochlea ; thence it passes towards the hand, becomes 

 tendinous, passes in a groove on the posterior aspect of the 

 carpus, and terminates on the palmar surface of the phalanges 

 in furnishing a number of tendons proportioned to the digital 

 division of the hand. Whatever the number, to which we 

 will again refer, each tendon is attached to the second phalanx, 

 after bifurcating at the level of the first, so as to form a sort 

 of ring, destined to give passage to the corresponding tendon 

 of the deep flexor. This ring and this passage have gained 

 for the muscle the name of perforated flexor. 



In the dog and the cat the principal tendon is divided 

 into four parts, which go to the four last digits. 



In the ox it is divided into two parts only ; as, more- 

 over, in the pig, whose superficial flexor is destined for 

 the two large digits only, the lateral digits receiving no 

 part of it. 



Finally, in the horse the tendon is single. 

 We have previously pointed out that in the carnivora 

 this muscle is visible on the internal and posterior aspects 

 of the forearm, in the interval which is limited in front by 

 the flexor carpi radialis and behind and outside by the 

 .anterior ulnar. 



Certain details are still to be added to the description of 



13 



