MUSCLES OP THE POSTERIOR LIMBS. 291 



Action. — This muscle is an adductor and flexor of the thigh, and more 

 particularly a rotator inwards of the same ray. 



4, Small Adductor of the Thigh. (Figs. 130, 12 ; 137, 14.) 



Synonyms. — The anterior portion of the biceps femoralis of Bourgelat, and of tlie 

 subpubio-femoralis of Girard} {Middle piibio-femoralis of Leyh. A portion of the 

 adductores femoris of Peroivall, and which he has named the adductor Irevis.) 



Situation — Direction. — This muscle is situated beneath the short ad- 

 ductor of the leg, between the pectineus and the great adductor of the thigh, 

 in an oblique direction downwards and outwards. 



Form — Structure. — It is flat from before backwards, thick and narrow at 

 its upper extremity, thin and wide inferiorly. Its muscular fibres are of a 

 pale-red colour, nearly parallel to each other, and sometimes very indistinct 

 — superficially, at least — from those belonging to the great adductor ; infe- 

 riorly, they become aponeurotic. 



Attachments. — Above, to the inferior face of the pubis— .-mc/iw ; below, 

 to the roughened quadrilateral surface on the posterior aspect of the femur, 

 in common with the short branch of the great adductor — termination. 



Relations. — Inwards, with the short adductor of the leg ; outwards, with 

 the obturator externus : in front, with the pectineus ; behind, with the great 

 adductor of the thigh. 



5. Great Adductor of the TJiigh. (Pigs. 130, 12.) 



Synonyms. — ^Posterior portion of the biceps femoralis of Bourgelat, and of the sub- 

 pubio-femoralis of Girard. ( The adductor longus, of Percivall. Posterior puhio-femoralis 

 ■ — LeyJi.) 



Situation — Direction. — The great adductor is situated beneath the 

 preceding muscle, between the small adductor and the semimembranosus, 

 proceeding obliquely downwards and outwards. 



Form — Structure. — It is a long, thick, prismatic muscle, depressed from 



' before to behind, terminating, inferiorly, by two branches of unequal length, 



and almost entirely composed of parallel muscular fibres, which are generally 



distinguished from the fasciculi of the small adductor by their deeper 



colour. 



Attachments. — Above, to the lower jface of the ischium and to the single 

 tendinous band which attaches the two muscles of the flat of the thigh to 

 the pelvic symphysis — origin. Below: 1, By its external branch, the 

 thickest and shortest, to the quadrilateral scabrous surface on the posterior 

 face of the femur, outside the small adductor ; 2, By its internal branch, 

 the longest and thinnest, to the supero-internal condyle of the femur, in 

 common with the semimembranosus and the internal femoro-tibial ligament 

 • — termination. 



Belations. — Inwards, with the short adductor of the leg ; behind, with 

 the semimembranosus; in front, with the small adductor, the external 

 obturator, and the inferior extremity of the square crural muscle. Its 

 external border, thinner than the internal, partly covers the superior 



' After mature deliberation, we have decided on describing as two muscles the biceps 

 femoralis of Bourgelat, and to give to them the names of small and great adductors of 

 the thigh, by which Bichat has designated the corresponding muscles in the lower 

 extremity 'of Man. We have thought it our duty, in this instance, to follow the example 

 given us by several German authors. 



