THE LOWER EXTREMITY, ANTERIOR, 575 



Hunter's Canal. Figs. 119,1 20. 



This so-called canal is no " canal " at all until its contents 

 are removed. It may be described as the angular space 

 between the insertions of the vastus internus on the outside 

 and the adductor longus and magnus muscles on the inside, 

 and reaching from the opening of the adductor magnus 

 upward to the apex of Scarpa's triangle. This angular 

 interval is " roofed " over by an aponeurotic membrane 

 extending between the vastus internus and the adductor 

 longus and magnus muscles, and through it passes the 

 femoral artery, vein, and long saphenous nerve, the situation 

 of these structures being from before backward, nerve, 

 artery, and vein. 



Vastus Bxternus. Figs. 118, 121. 



Origin. From the upper half of the anterior intertro- 

 chanteric line, from the front of the great trochanter, from 

 the horizontal line which marks the base of the great tro- 

 chanter, from the outer part of the gluteal ridge (insertion 

 of the gluteus maximus), from the whole length of the outer 

 lip of the linea aspera. 



Insertion. Into the upper and outer margins of the 

 patella, and by a strong aponeurosis into the external tuber- 

 osity of the tibia and the deep fascia of the leg. 



Nerve Supply. The anterior crural. 



Action. To extend the leg, the outward pull of the 

 muscle owing to the obliquity of its lower fibres, resists a 

 corresponding internal traction of the vastus internus. 



Vastus Internus and Crureus. Figs. 117, 119, 120. 



Origin. From the front and sides of the femur for its 

 upper two-thirds (crureus portion), from the lower half of 

 the anterior intertrochanteric line, and its continuation 

 (spiral line) to the linea aspera, from the whole length of 



