E 



ANTERIOR FEMORAL REGION. 225 



into the outer side of the patella, forming a common 

 aponeurotic tendon with the rectus muscle. 



The YASTUS INTERNUS MUSCLE forms the bulk of the 

 fleshy portion of the lower part of the thigh at its inner 

 side, giving the limb its characteristic outline ; it arises 

 from the anterior and lateral surfaces of the femur, and 

 the whole length of the linea aspera ; its lower end 

 >rminates in an aponeurosis, which, blending with that of 

 the rectus, is inserted into the inner border of the patella, 

 "he upper part of the muscle is hidden beneath the rectus 

 id sartorius muscles; the adductor muscles are insepara- 

 )ly connected with that portion attached to the linea aspera. 

 'he portion lying beneath the rectus muscle, the fibres of 

 rhich run longitudinally from the inter-trochanteric line 

 the patella, is sometimes described as a separate muscle, 

 died the crurseus. The sub-crurasus muscle is a small 

 >undle of fibres beneath the cruraeus, arising from the front 

 irt of the femur, and inserted into the capsule of the 

 :nee-joint. 



These three muscles are sometimes described as one mus- 

 ?le with three heads ; the patella is then considered as a 

 isamoid bone, and the ligamentum patellae, inserted into 

 tubercle of the tibia, as the real tendon of insertion to 

 three muscles, combined under the name of triceps ex- 

 msor cruris. If the crumeus is looked upon as a separate 

 inscle, the term quadriceps is used. 



These muscles are all supplied by branches of the crural 

 irve, and the femoral artery sends off irregular muscular 

 twigs, which penetrate them on their under surface. 



The muscles upon the inner and upper part of the thigh almost in- 

 variably become dried and defaced from the delay occasioned by the 

 examination of other parts, after their exposure in the dissection of 



moral hernia ; if they have been kept properly moist, they will 

 owever still be found in tolerable condition. 



If the subject be entire, the knees should be bent and the soles of 

 the two feet placed in contact with the heels pushed up and so ap- 

 proximated to the pelvis that they will retain their position. If the 

 limb is separated from the trunk, the ilium must be fixed by blocks, 

 and the muscles of the inside of the thigh rendered as tense as cir- 

 cumstances will permit. 



The muscles of the inner side of the thigh are the three 

 adductors (longus, brevis, and magnus), with the gracilis 

 and pectineus. The gracilis is the longest and most inter- 

 nal ; superficial to the others are the pectineus and the 



