VH. DETAILED ANATOMY OF LIMB MUSCLES 
f 
Material. —Full-grown rabbit (or cat). This should be pre¬ 
pared several days, at least, before it is to be used, by the following 
method: Remove the skin from the entire animal except the feet, 
and the region immediately surrounding the orifices. Evis¬ 
cerate the abdomen through a transverse incision. (For con¬ 
venience in hardening, this transverse incision may be extended 
to divide the whole body into anterior and posterior halves.) 
Harden in a considerable quantity of saturate solution of 
corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury) for 3 days. Wash 
thoroughly with water. Preserve for subsequent work in 60% 
alcohol. 
Directions for Dissection. —In dissecting muscles, always 
expose each muscle by removing loose connective tissue coverings 
and attachments to other muscles, but leave intact as long as 
possible the muscle itself and its tendinous attachments. Study 
each muscle in its relationship to others and to the bony skeleton, 
using for reference, rough skeletal preparations 1 of the part 
studied. Note its form, the direction of its fibers, its origin and 
insertion, and reason out from this what its work must be. Iden¬ 
tify each muscle by its origin and insertion using the tabulated 
list 2 as a means for naming the muscles of a region after these have 
been dissected and studied, since often the complete identification 
must be postponed until other muscles have been worked out. 
When it is necessary to cut a muscle, make a clean cut transversely 
through the belly and reflect each end in order to follow out the 
muscle completely and to expose underlying parts. Never remove 
a muscle until it has been fully studied and drawn, and then only 
when necessary to expose deeper parts. 
Make a series of carefully labeled drawings to show all the facts 
determined. 
Finally skeletonize the appendage and girdle which you have 
dissected, by cutting off each muscle from its two attachments 
1 The supply of these skeletal preparations is provided for and kept up from year 
to year by means of those which each class makes upon the completion of this piece 
of dissection. 
2 In case the cat is used instead of the rabbit, Davidson’s Mammalian Anatomy 
with Especial Reference to the Cat will be found helpful. 
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