2G8 



MUSCLES OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



curved line, and in front of the gluteus maximum, from the strong fibres of 

 the fascia lata covering its outer surface. The muscular fibres converge 

 as they descend, the anterior fibres passing obliquely backwards, the poste- 

 rior fibres obliquely forwards, and terminate in a fan-shaped tendon, which, 

 becoming narrowed and thick, is inserted into the oblique line directed 

 downwards and forwards on the outer surface of the great trochanter. The 

 tendon is separated by a small bursa from the upper part of the trochanter, 

 Anteriorly there is no separation between this muscle and the gluteus 

 minimus on w r hich it lies, the two muscles running into one another at 

 their common anterior border, and separating only at their tendons of 

 insertion. 



Between this muscle and the gluteus minimus are the gluteal nerve and deep 

 branches of the gluteal artery. 



Fig. 207. 



Fig. 207. DEEP MUSCLES OP THE HIP 



AND PELVIS ON THE LEFT SIDE, FROM 

 BEHIND. \ 



The gluteus raaximus and the muscles of 

 the thigh have been removed. 1, gluteus 

 raedius ; 2, pyriformis ; 3, gemellus su- 

 perior ; 4, gemellus inferior ; 5, obturator 

 internus, seen partially within the pelvis, 

 and, after issuing by the lesser sciatic notch, 

 between the gemelli muscles ; 6, quadratus 

 femoris ; 7, tendon of the obturator ex- 

 ternus between the gemellus inferior and 

 quadratus. 



The gluteus minimus, covered by 

 the preceding muscle, arises from the 

 whole space on the dorsum ilii be- 

 tween the superior and inferior curved 

 lines. The fibres, converging as they 

 descend, terminate in an aponeurotic 

 expansion, superficial to the muscle, 

 and become narrowed into a tendon 

 which is inserted into an impression 

 on the anterior border of the great 

 trochanter. The tendon is bound 



down to the prominence of the trochauter by a strong fibrous band which 

 joins it from the upper margin of the capsule of the hip-joint. A synovial 

 bursa is interposed between the tendon and the trochanter. 



The pyriformis muscle arises within the pelvis by three fleshy digitation^ 

 from the second, third, and fourth divisions of the sacrum, between the 

 anterior sacral foramina, slightly from the deep surface of the iliac bone, 

 near the sacro-sciatic notch, and from the sacro-sciatic ligament. The 

 muscle passes out of the pelvis by the great sacro-sciatic notch, and is 

 inserted by a rounded tendon into the upper border of the great trochanter, 

 being bound down for some distance from the point of its final insertion to 

 the subjacent tendon of the obturator internus and gemelli muscles. 



The pyriformis muscle, after escaping from the pelvis, is in contact by its upper 

 border with the gluteus medius and minimus, the gluteal vessels and nerve inter- 

 vening ; and by its lower border with the superior gemellus muscle, the sciatic vessels 

 and nerves, which emerge beneath it, lying between. The muscle is frequently 

 pierced by part of the great sciatic nerve, and is thus divided more or less completely 

 into two parts. 



