253 



MUSCLES OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



Relations. In this long course the sartorius is directed obliquely inwards over the 

 anterior part of the thigh in the upper half, and then nearly vertically on the inner aspect of 

 the limb as far as the knee ; below this it curves forwards to its place of attachment. The 

 muscle is covered only by the fascia lata and the integument. It passes over the iliacus and 

 rectus femoris muscles, the anterior crural nerve and femoral vessels, the pectineus, the 

 adductor longus, adductor magnus. and vastus internus muscles. The tendon of insertion 



Fig. 252. SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES OF THE FRONI OP THE 

 THIGH. (Allen Thomson.) | 



a, anterior superior spine of the ilium ; b, symphysis. 

 pubis ; c, patella ; d, tubercle of the tibia ; 1, insertion of 

 the external oblique muscle into the iliac crest ; 2, its 

 aponeurosis ; 3, external abdominal ring ; 4, gluteus 

 medius ; 5, tensor vaginae femoris at the place of its inser- 

 tion into the ilio-tibial band, which has been removed 

 between 5 and 5', where it is seen descending to be at- 

 tached to the tibia ; 6, sartorius ; 6', its insertion ; 7, ilio- 

 psoas ; 8, pectineus ; 9, adductor longus ; 10, gracilis ; 

 11, part of adductor magnus ; 12, vastus externus ; 13, 

 rectus femoris ; 14, vastus internus ; 15, biceps flexor 

 cruris. 



covers those of the gracilis and semitendinosus, being- 

 separated from them, however, by a prolongation of 

 the bursa which is interposed between these tendons 

 and the internal lateral ligament of the knee-joint. 

 The inner border of this muscle and the most pro- 

 jecting part of the adductor longus form the sides, 

 and Poupart's ligament forms the base, of a triangular 

 space in the upper third of the thigh, through the 

 middle of which the femoral artery passes. This 

 usually receives the name of Scarpci's triangle. 



Varieties. The sartorius not unfrequently re- 

 ceives fibres of origin from the outer end of Poupart's 

 ligament. A separate head from the notch of the 

 ilium, a supplementary slip of origin from the ilio- 

 pectineal line, and one from the pubis close to the 

 symphysis have also been observed. The muscle has 

 in several instances been found divided into two parts 

 similarly attached ; or the accessory portion is inserted 

 into the fascia lata, femur, or ligament of the patella, 

 or into the tendon of the normal one or of the semi- 

 tendinosus. The tendon of insertion has been found 

 to end in the fascia lata, in the capsule of the knee- 

 joint, and in the fascia of the leg. A tendinous inter- 

 section has been seen in rare cases. Absence of the 

 muscle has also been noted. 



The quadriceps extensor cruris, the ex- 

 tensor muscle of the knee, is the largest muscle in 

 the body. It consists of four parts, one of which, 

 the rectus femoris, descends from the hip-bone 

 and is distinct down to the lower tendon of the 



muscle, while the other three, viz., the vastus externus, vastus internus, and crureus, 

 are more or less closely united together, and cover the whole of the anterior and 

 lateral surfaces of the thigh-bone, from which they arise. 



a. The rectus femoris is spindle-shaped, and extends in a straight line from the 

 pelvis to the patella. It arises from the ilium by two tendinous heads, the anterior 

 of which is attached to the anterior inferior spine, and the posterior to the impression 

 on the outer surface of the bone immediately above the acetabulum. The two join at 

 an angle of about 60 close below the margin of the acetabulum, and form a tendon 

 which is prolonged on the anterior surface, and then in the centre of the muscular mass, 



