MEDIAL SIDE OF THE THIGH 213 



joint. The latter branch pierces the distal part of the 

 adductor magnus, close to the linea aspera, and will be 

 seen in the fossa poplitea lying posterior to the popliteal 

 artery. 



M. Gracilis. This is a long, strap-like muscle, which 

 lies along the medial aspect of the thigh and knee. It 

 springs, by a thin tendon, from the lower half of the body of the 

 pubis, close to the symphysis, and also from the upper half of 

 the pubic arch (Fig. 81, p. 2 1 2). It ends in a slender, rounded 

 tendon which inclines anteriorly below the knee, and then ex- 

 pands and is inserted into the proximal part of the medial 

 surface of the tibia, under cover of the tendon of the sartorius, 

 and at a higher level than the insertion of the semitendinosus 

 (Fig. 92, p. 248). A bursa mucosa separates the expanded 

 tendon of the gracilis from the tibial collateral ligament of the 

 knee-joint, and is prolonged above it, so as to intervene 

 between it and the tendon of the sartorius. The gracilis is 

 supplied by the anterior division of the obturator nerve. 



M. Adductor Magnus. This is one .of the most power- 

 ful muscles of the thigh. It forms a flat, fleshy mass, which 

 springs from the anterior surface of the entire length of 

 the pubic arch of the corresponding side, and from the distal 

 part of the tuber ischiadicum (Fig. 81, p. 212). The fibres 

 which arise from the pubic arch spread out as they approach the 

 posterior aspect of the femur. The proximal fibres are nearly 

 horizontal in their direction ; the more distal descend with 

 increasing degrees of obliquity. They are inserted into the 

 posterior part of the femur, just medial to the glutaeal tuberosity, 

 into the linea aspera, and into a small portion of the proximal 

 part of the medial supracondylar ridge (Fig. 77, p. 207). The 

 fibres which take origin from the ischial tuberosity descend 

 almost vertically and form the thick medial border of the 

 muscle. In the distal third of the thigh they end in a strong, 

 rounded tendon, which is inserted into the adductor tubercle 

 on the medial condyle of the femur (Fig. 102, p. 279). This 

 tendon is further attached to the femur by the medial inter- 

 muscular septum which stretches between it and the medial 

 supracondylar line. Close to the linea aspera the dissector 

 will notice that fibrous arches are formed in connection with 

 the insertion of the adductor magnus for the passage of the 

 perforating arteries. The opening through which the femoral 

 artery enters the popliteal fossa lies in series with these. It 

 I 14 a 



