MUSCLES OF THE PELVIC LIMBS. 195 
with the following muscles of the lower leg: the tibialis anterior 
(Fig. 90, 7), the extensor longus digitorum (Fig. 90, £), the 
peroneus longus (Fig. 90, g), and the lateral head of the 
gastrocnemius (Fig. go, #7). 
Action.—Abductor of the thigh, and flexor of the shank. 
M. tenuissimus or M. abductor cruris (Fig. 90, g).—A 
very slender muscle, only three or four millimeters wide. 
Origtx from the tip of the transverse process of the second 
caudal vertebra, in common with the caudofemoralis (Fig. 
68, s) or gluteus maximus. It passes obliquely beneath the 
biceps femoris (Fig. 68, 2) distad and ventrad, to the distal end 
of the ventral border of that muscle. Here it becomes con- 
tinuous with the ventral border of the biceps, ending in a con- 
tinuation of the same fascia into which the biceps is inserted. 
Relations.—Outer surface with the caudofemoralis (Fig. 
68, s) and the biceps femoris (Fig. 68, #); distad with the 
integument. Inner surface with the obturator internus (Fig. 
90, ¢), quadratus femoris (/), semitendinosus (7), adductor 
femoris (4), semimembranosus (2), and distad with the muscles 
of the lower leg. 
M. caudofemoralis (parameralis, Strauss-Durckheim) (Fig. 
68, s, page 117). 
Origin by a flat tendon from the transverse processes of the 
second and third caudal vertebra. The muscle forms a flat 
band which passes distad along the middle of the lateral side 
of the thigh over the pelvis and caudad of the great trochanter. 
At the middle of the thigh it ends in a very thin tendon. The 
tendon passes distad along the medial surface of the biceps 
femoris (Fig. 68, 7), pierces the fascia lata near the knee, and 
passes to its , 
Insertion into the middle of the lateral border of the patella. 
Relations. —Outer surface with the superficial fascia and a 
few fibres of the cutaneus maximus; distad with the biceps 
femoris (Fig. 68, 2). Cranial border with the gluteus maxi- 
mus; caudal border with the biceps femoris. Inner surface 
with the tenuissimus (Fig. 90, g), the gluteus maximus, the 
abductor caudz internus, and with the obturator internus (Fig. 
90, ¢); distad with the vastus lateralis. 
