GLUTEI MUSCLES. 



267 



into an elongated rough impression, extending between the base of the great 

 trochanter and the linea aspera ; and those of the upper two-thirds into a thick 

 tendinous structure, which covers the great trochanter, and joins the fascia 

 lata of the thi^h : a few of the lowest fibres terminate also iu the fascia. 



Fig. 206. 



Fig. 206. SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES OP THE HIP 

 AND THIGH, SEEN PROM BEHIND. 



1, gluteus medius, covered by the strong fascia 

 lata ; 2, middle of the gluteus maximus ; 2', 

 placed on the fascia lata below the place where the 

 gluteus maximus is inserted into it, and above 

 the insertion of the muscle into the femur ; 3, 

 vast us externus ; 4, biceps flexor cruris ; 4', 

 tendon of the biceps, receiving en its outer side 

 the oblique fibres of the short part ; 5, semi- 

 tendinosus ; 5', its tendon near the insertion ; 

 6, semimembranosus, its tendon of insertion is 

 seen between 5' and 7"; 7, gracilis; 7', tendon of 

 the gracilis near its insertion ; 8, small part of 

 the sartorius ; 9, small portion of the adductor 

 magnus ; 10, outer, and 11, inner head of the 

 gastrocnemius ; 12, placed in the popliteal 

 space, points to the origin of the plantaris. 



At the upper and lower borders of this 

 muscle, the fascia lata, or aponeurosis of the 

 limb, splits into two thin layers, which are 

 continued, one on the deep, and the other on 

 the outer surface, so as to enclose the muscle. 

 A few fibres on the upper border of the muscle 

 arise from the deeper of those two layers : 

 the lower border, longer and looser, lies in the 

 fold of the nates. The deep surface rests on 

 the gluteus medius and pyriformis muscles, 

 the tendon of the obturator internus, with 

 the two gemelli, the quadratus femoris, a 

 small portion of the adductor magnus, the 

 great trochanter, the ischial tuberosity, and 

 the origins of the hamstring muscles ; it 

 covers also the sciatic artery and nerves as 

 they emerge from the pelvis below the pyri- 

 formis, the superficial branch of the gluteal 

 artery passing out above that muscle, and 

 the pudic artery and nerve lying behind the 

 spine of the ischium. 



Between the tendon of the muscle and 

 the great trochanter of the femur, are placed 

 two or three synovial bursae, or a single 

 multil ocular bursa of large size. A bursa is 

 also situated between the muscle and the 

 tendon of the vastus externus, and another 

 separates it from the tuber ischii. 



The great size of the gluteus maximus 

 and the consequent prominence of the 

 buttock, is a characteristic of man as com- 

 pared with those animals which most nearly 

 approach him in general structure. 



The gluteus medius, covered paitly by the gluteus maximus, partly by the 

 fascia lata, arises from the surface of the dorsum ilii above the superior 



