354 



ZOOTOMY. 



In the thigh and hip. 



437. The fascia lata, or strong fibrous covering of the 

 muscles of the thigh : it is especially thick on the outer side : 

 dissect it away so as to expose the underlying muscles, 

 taking care not to injure any of the latter, some of which 

 are closely attached to the fascia. 



438. The sartorius (Fig. 67, A, sa), a small flat muscle 

 on the inner face of the thigh, about midway between its 

 anterior and posterior borders : it arises from the middle of 

 Poupart's ligament, and passing obliquely outwards blends 

 with the anterior edge of the gracilis (§ 439)- 



439. The gracilis {gr), a large thin sheet of muscle 

 covering the greater part of the posterior half of the inner 

 surface of the thigh : it arises from the whole of the 

 symphysis pubis, and passes distally into a broad fascia 

 which is inserted into the upper part of the inner (pre-axial) 

 border of the tibia : separate it from the underlying muscles, 

 cut it through, and reflect along with the sartorius. 



440. The quadriceps (Figs. 67 and 68, qu), or great 

 extensor of the crus, a very large muscle forming the anterior 

 part of the thigh : it consists of several parts — 



{a). The long or superficial head of the rectus 

 anticus {qu. i), forming the anterior edge of the thigh : it 

 arises from the pubic border of the ihum, and is inserted by 

 a strong thick tendon, the ligamentum patellae {Ig.pa), 

 in which the patella is embedded, into the crest of the tibia : 

 carefully separate it from the underlying muscles, cut through 

 and reflect. 



On the dorsal surface of the thigh the edge of the rectus is produced, 

 near its proximal end, into a somewhat semicircular expansion which is 

 inserted into the fascia lata : this represents what is usually a separate 

 muscle, the tensor vaginae femoris or tensor fasciae latae. 



{b). The vastus internus {qu.2), occupying the space, on 



