THE KXEE 



1183 



quadriceps, the patella needs to project very little; thus, only its upper third is in 

 contact with the femur, its lower two-thirds now resting on the pad of fat between 

 it and the tibia. (3) In semiflexion the middle third of the patella rests upon 

 the most prominent part of the condyles (Humi)hry). While the bone now 

 affords the greatest amount of leverage to the ((uadricejjs, it is also submitted to 

 the greatest amount of strain from this muscle, Avhich is acting almost at a right 

 angle to the long axis of the patella. Tliis position may therefore V)e called 'the 

 area of danger,' as, in a sudden and violent contraction, the patella may be snapped 



Fig. 



749. — Deep Dissection of the Gluteal Region'. 

 the Hunteriau Mu.seuiu.) 



(From a preparation iu 



Gluteus medius 



Gluteus minimus 



Pyriforinis, divided 



into two by the 



great sciatic nerve 



GREAT TROCHANTER 



Obturator eiternus '^g. 



Quadratus femoris '^^ 



Fascial insertion of 

 gluteus maximus 



Horizontal fibres of 

 adductor magnus 



Fleshy insertion of 

 gluteus maximus 



GREAT SACftO-SCIATiC 

 FORAMEN 



GLUTEAL NERVE 

 SVPPLYISG FOR- 

 TIO.WS OF G LU- 

 TE IS MEDIUS 



Gluteus maximus 



Obturator internus. 

 Below is the infe- 

 rior gemellus. The 

 superior gemellus 

 is absent 



BRAyCHES OF IS- 

 FERIOR PUUES- 

 DAL yERVE 



GREA T SCL4 TIC yER VE. 

 I'nder it, obliqiip fibres of 

 :iikiuct«r niagniis are set-ii 



SMA LL SCI a TIC yER VE 



across by muscular action, aided by the resistance given by the condyles, in the 

 same way as a stick is snapped across the knee. Below its articular surface for the 

 femur it is separated from the tibia l)y a pad of fat and a deep bursa, save at the 

 apex to which the ligamentum ])atell» is attached, ^^'hen the knee-joint is bent, the 

 trochlear surface of the former can ])e made out, with some dithculty, underneath 

 the quadriceps expansion. The upper and outer angle of this surface forms a 

 useful landmark (Godlee), as a line drawn from it to the adductor tubercle marks 

 the level of the lower epiphysis of the femur. 



