MUSCLES OF THE PELVIC LIMBS. 187 
between these points it is united with the tendon of the vastus 
lateralis ; it thus gains insertion into the patella. At its proxi- 
mal end the fascia receives the insertion of the tensor fascie 
late (Fig. 68, 7). 
M. tensor fascia late (Fig. 68, 7, page 117; Fig. 92, a). 
—The tensor fascia late is a thick triangular muscle which 
may be recognized by its insertion into the proximal end of the 
fascia lata (Fig. 68, 2; Fig. 92, a’). 
Origin by fleshy fibres as a thick triangular prism from the 
outer margin of the ventral border of the ilium craniad of the 
auricular impression and from the fascia covering the ventral 
border of the gluteus medius (Fig. 90, 0) over its cranial half. 
The caudal border of the muscle may be continuous with the 
cranial border of the gluteus maximus. The muscle spreads 
out in a fan-like manner, covering the proximal third of the 
dorsal surface of the thigh. The cranial fibres pass farther 
distad than the others. 
/nusertion into the fascia lata (Fig. 68, 2) along an irregular 
line which begins caudad at the base of the great trochanter 
and ends on the cranial side of the thigh at the junction of the 
first and second thirds. 
Relations. —Outer surface with the cutaneus maximus 
(Fig. 62, 4, page 94) and craniad with the sartorius (Fig. 
68, g). Cranial border with the sartorius (g); caudodorsal 
border with the gluteus medius (Fig. 90, 4). Inner surface 
with the gluteus medius, the rectus femoris (Fig. 92, 0), and 
the vastus lateralis (Fig. 90, @). 
Action indicated by the name. It also assists the quad- 
riceps femoris in extending the leg. 
M. gluteus maximus.—The gluteus maximus is a rather 
small quadrangular muscle in the angle between the gluteus 
medius (Fig. 90, 4) and the caudal vertebre. 
Origin (Fig. 163, 8, page 401) by fleshy fibres from the tips 
of the transverse processes of the last sacral and the first caudal 
vertebra, from the fascia covering the spinous muscles dorsad 
of the transverse processes of these vertebre, and from the 
fascia covering the gluteus medius. The muscle passes laterad 
and slightly caudad to its 
