THE ANTERIOR FEMORAL MUSCLES 471

it covers the Pectineus , Adductor longus , and Gracilis , and , passing behind the
sheath femoral vessels , to which it is closely united , is continuous with the
of the
iliopectineal fascia , and is attached to the pectineal line.
From this description it may be observed that the superficial portion of the
fascia lata lies in front of the femoral vessels , and the deep portion behind them ,
so that an apparent aperture exists between the two , through which the great
saphenous passes to join the femoral vein .
The Sartorius , the longest muscle in the body , is narrow and ribbon - like ; it
arises by tendinous fibers from the anterior superior iliac spine and the upper half
of the notch below it . It passes obliquely across the upper and anterior part of
the thigh , from the lateral to the medial side of the limb , then descends vertically ,
as far as the medial side of the knee , passing behind the medial condyle of the femur
to end in a tendon . This curves obliquely forward and expands into a broad apon
eurosis , which is inserted , in front of theGracilis and Semitendinous , into the upper
part of the medial surface of the body of the tibia , nearly as far forward as the
anterior crest . The upper part of the aponeurosis is curved backward over the
upper edge of the tendon of the Gracilis so as to be inserted behind it . An offset ,
upper margin blends with the capsule the knee joint and another
of
its its

from
,

,
-
the medial side the leg

of
on

from lower border with the fascia

,

.
Slips origin from the outer end the inguinal ligament the notch the ilium
of

of

of
Variations

,
.-
be ilio

the pubis occur The muscle may split into two parts and one part
be
or

the pectineal line

,
.
-

may the ligament the patella

of
inserted into the fascia lata the femur the tendon the

or
of
,

insertion may end

of

of
Semitendinosus The tendon the fascia lata the capsule the knee
in

,
.

The muscle may

be
or

joint the leg

of

the fascia absent

,

The Quadriceps femoris Quadriceps extensor includes the four remaining

(

leg
the thigh the great extensor muscle forming
It
on

of

the front the

of

,
muscles
is
.

large fleshy mass which covers the front and sides

of

the femur subdivided

It
is
a

, . .

into separate portions which have received distinctive names One occupying
,

its
the thigh and connected above with the ilium
of

the middle called from

is
,

lie

straight course the Rectus femoris

The other three immediate connection
in
.
of

body
the femur which they cover from the trochanters the condyles
to

with the
,

.
The

on

portion the lateral side termed the Vastus lateralis that

of

the femur
;
is

covering the medial side the Vastus medialis and that front the Vastus
in
;
,

intermedius
.

the front the thigh fusi

of

of

The Rectus fémoris the middle situated

its is

is
in

;
it
nd
its

shape superficial fibers are arranged

and bipenniform manner
in

form
in

,
a

the deep fibers running supaight

straight down the deep aponeurosis arises by two
It
to

.
,
from

one the anterior straight

doight from the anterior inferior iliac spine the
or

tendons
;
e;
,

,
:

tendons
other the posterior groove above the brim
ofor
cute

reflected from the acetabulum

of
,

, ,

posterior
.

aponeurosis which prolonged

an

acute angle and spread into

an
at

The two unite

,

is

angle
the
on

anof the muscle and from this the muscular fibers

of

downward the anterior surface

,

arise The muscle ends broad and thick aponeurosis which occupies the lower
in
a
- .

muscaponeuros
two

posterior surface and gradually becoming narrowed into flat

, of
is its

thirds
,

inserted into the base the patella

of

tened tendon
the
.
The

of

the largest part

part the Quadriceps
of

Vastus lateralis Vastus externus

, )is
(

argest
by aponeurosis which the upper part
of
It

arises broad aponeurosis attached

to
is

femoris
ad

,
a
.
the

line the greater tro

of to

of

intertrochanteric line the anterior and inferior borders

,

trochanteric
lip

the lateral the gluteal tuberosity and the upper half the
to

to

of

chanter
,

,
lip

the linea aspera this aponeurosis covers the upper three fourths
of

of

lateral
;

-
the

deep surface many fibers take origin few additional

its

muscle and from

,

A
.

the Glutæus maximus and from the lateral inter

of

fibers arise from the tendon

,

the Biceps femoris

of

muscular septum between the Vastus lateralis and short head

, .

large fleshy mass which

to

The fibers form attached strong aponeurosis

is
,
a

the lower part the muscle this aponeurosis becomes

of

of

the deep surface

on

placed
: