THE THIGH. 



355 



finement of this tendinous coat. When this tendinous band is dissected off, 

 another is found heneath, which is represented at a, raised and turned back, 

 larger than the former, thicker and more muscular. It .proceeds from the 

 haunch-bones to the stifle, upon the fore and outer part of the haunch and 

 thigh, and is intended to tighten and strengthen the other. 



Under the part of this flat and binding muscle, which is represented in our 

 cut as raised from its natural situation, is a large round one proceeding from 

 the ilium, not far from the cup 

 which receives the upper bone of 

 the thigh, and running straight 

 down this bone, and thence its 

 name rectus. It is inserted into 

 the bone of the stifle. An inspec- 

 tion of the cut, p. 108, will show 

 that it is so situated as to be en- 

 abled to exert its great power in 

 the most advantageous way. It 

 is a very prominent muscle, and 

 possesses immense strength. It 

 terminates in a tendon, which is 

 short and very strong, and which 

 is, before its insertion into the 

 patella, united with the prolon- 

 gation of the tendinous substance 

 at g, in the cut, p. 356, and also 

 with the tendon of the muscle at 

 i, in that cut, and at c, in the 

 following cut, and which is pro- 

 perly called vastus, from its great 

 bulk. Some have divided this 

 into two muscles: the external 

 and internal. Theexternal arising 

 from the outer surface of the 

 upper bone of the thigh j the 

 internal, from the inner surface ; 

 and they are inserted into the 

 upper part of the bone of the 

 stifle, both on the inner and 

 outer side. These muscles act 

 at considerable mechanical disadvantage. They form a very slight angle, not 

 at all approaching to a right angle ; but they are muscles of immense size, 

 and occupy all the fore part of the thigh, from the stifle upwards. They are 

 powerful extensors of the thigh, and of the hinder leg generally; for they 

 are all inserted into the bone of the knee, and that is connected by strong ten- 

 dons with the bone of the true leg. 



On the inside of the thigh are several other large fleshy muscles, which 

 will be easily recognised on the thigh of the living horse. First is a long, 

 narrow, prominent muscle, the sartorius, d, arising partly from the lumbar 

 vertebrae, and extending down the thigh — assisting in binding the leg, and 

 turning it inward — giving it a rotatory motion, and also aiding in many of the 

 natural actions of the horse. 



Next comes a broad, thin muscle, the gracilis, e, occupying the greater 

 portion of the surface of the inner part of the thigh, and particularly the pro- 

 minent part of it. It arises from the lower portion, of the haunch-bone, and, in 



a a 2 



