The anatomy of human bodies, comprehending the most modern discoveries and curiosities in that art to which is added a particular treatise of the small-pox & measles : together with several practical observations and experienced cures ... / written in Latin by Ijsbrand de Diemerbroeck ... ; translated from the last and most correct and full edition of the same, by William Salmon ...

CHAP. XIII. Of the Muscles of the Thigh.

IN regard the Office of the Foot is to walk and stand, which consists in Fixation and Motion, for that in walk∣ing, while one Foot is set to the Ground, the other still moves forward; for the Performance of both these Offi∣ces, there is a necessity of various Mus∣cles, of which, some move the Thigh, others the Leg, others the Feet, toge∣ther with the Toes. The Thigh is ex∣tended, bended, brought forward, car∣ried backward, and turned about. Three Muscles therefore bend the Thigh.

I. First, the Lumbar Muscle, which is for the most part round, thick, and livid, and seated in the hollow Capacity of the Abdomen. It arises with a fleshy Beginning about the two lower Vertebers of the Breast, and the three upper Vertebers of the Loyns, and descending along the inner Superficies of the Ilion Bone is inserted with a round and strong Tendon into the lesser little Wheel of the Thigh, in the higher part before, and strongly draws the Thigh upward. But because the Reins lye up∣on this Muscle, being endued with a remarkable Sinew, in the same place where the Sinew enters them; hence it comes to pass, that if any Stone be in the Kidneys, there happens a Numness in the Thigh on that Side, by reason of its Compression.

Over this, sometimes is spread the other small Muscle, called the small

Lumbal, which where it begins for a∣bout a Fingers length, being carried o∣ver the Lumbal it self, fleshy, slender, and with a flat Tendon, terminates to∣gether with the Lumbal and Iliac, close∣ly embraces it and keeps it firm in its Seat. This Riolanus reports is not to be found in Women. Bartholine also writes, that in the Year 1651. he saw another Psoa, somewhat bigger than this, about the breadth of three Fingers, which bending outwards more to the sides, lay partly under the great Lumbal, and lastly, was inserted with a fleshy Substance into the upper edge of the Iliac Bone, where the inner Iliac Mus∣cle rises.

II. 2. The Internal Iliacus, which with a slender and fleshy beginning rising in the inner Con•…•…avity of the Ilian Bone, unites with its Tendon to the Lumbal, and terminates forward between the greater and the lesser Trochanter.

III. 3. The Pectineus, which is of a livid Colour; this rising broad and fleshy from the upper part of the Share-bone, near the Commissure, close by its Gristle, is inserted with a short and broad Tendon into the inner side of the Thigh, and starts out to the hinder Parts, where the Thigh bends strongly upward and inward, and by that means one Thigh is laid upon another. And there∣fore not without reason, it is by Bartho∣lin referred to the Adducting Muscles.

Three Muscles extend the Thigh, which are called Glutaei, and consti∣tute the Buttocks, and are besides ser∣viceable to the Act of Walking.

IV. 1. The larger Glutaeus, which rising very fleshy from the Coccyx, the Spine of the Os Sacrum, and the Rib of the Ilion Bone, terminates with a strong Tendon four Fingers below the great Trochanther.

V. 2. The middle Glutaeus, both for situation and bigness, is for the most part spread under the former. This springing forth with a fleshy Beginning from the Rib and Back of the Ilion Bone, in the Forepart, and possessing al∣most the whole Region of the Ilion Bone, is inserted with a broad Tendon into the foremost and higher part of the bigger Trochanter, girdling it every way.

VI. 3. The lesser Glutaeus, which lies altogether hidden under the second; this comes out of a fleshy Substance from the back of the Ilion Bone, and from the hinder and lower Seat of it, and is inserted with a strong and robust Ten∣don into the inner Part and Top of the larger Trochanter or Extuberance of the Thigh.

VII. The three-headed Muscle draws the Thigh inward, which from its fourfold Beginning, according to Fallopius, Bauhinus and Riolanus, more truly deserves to be called the Four∣headed Muscle. This is the thickest of all the Muscles in the whole Body, of which, the several Parts, as they vary in their rise and Insertion, so also in their Fibers, and somewhat as to their use. For which Reason, Bartholinus di∣vides it into three Muscles, though he had done better to have made it four.

• The first part rises with a sinewy Be∣ginning from the upper Line of the Share Bone, and is inserted into the rough Line of the Thigh.
• The second comes out from the lowest Commissure of the Share-bone, and terminates in the sharp Line of the Thigh, at the upper Part.
• The third Part arises from the whole lower part of the Hip, and is inserted into the hinder rough Line of the Thigh under the lesser Rotator.
• The fourth Part proceeding from the Top of the Hip with a round Tendon, which unites with a slender Tendon of a Portion of the first Part, terminates in the inner and inferior Extuberance of the Thigh.

Riolanuus writes, that the first part is inserted into the middle of the Thigh, the second below the Neck, and that the third extends it self with a most ro∣bust Tendon to the Extremity of the Thigh.

They who allow but three begin∣nings to this Muscle, instead of a fourth beginning, add to it a peculiar Muscle, which Riolanus calls the Pectineus, Ve∣slingius the Livid Muscle, which indeed is but the forth part of the Three head∣ed Muscle.

VIII. Four small Muscles bring the Thigh to the outer side, called Quadrigemini, because they are al∣most alike one to another, and alter∣nately placed in the Part behind, a∣bove the Articulation of the Thigh.

The first and uppermost Quadrigemi∣nus, from its Pear-like Shape, call'd Py∣riformis, from its Situation, the external Iliacus, comes out from the lowermost Part of the Os Sacrum. The second from the Extuberance of the Thigh∣bone. The third contiguous to it from the same place. The fourth called

Quadratus, broader and more fleshy than the rest, and about two Fingers breadth distant from the Third arises from the inner part of the Protube∣rancy of the Ischion, and terminates in the External part of the great Trochan∣ter.

IX. Two Muscles wheel the Thigh obliquely, call'd the Coverers or Ob∣turators, which possess an open hole between the Share-bone and the Thigh∣bone, and assist the Thigh in going backward; one Internal, the other Ex∣ternal.

The Internal which is the stronger, proceeding fleshy and broad from the inner Circumference of the said Hole, and being carry'd transversly outward above the Hip, with a three headed Tendon, passing through a Purse for securities sake, enters the Concavity of the great Trochanter, and there causes external Rotation.

The External, which lyes under the Pectineus, beginning from the outward Circumference of the said Hole, with a fleshy substance, and winding through the neck of the Thigh, like a Periwincle shell is inserted into the Concavity of the Great Trochanter with a large and strong Tendon, and directs Internal Ro∣tation.

Note, that although the Muscles of the Thigh, in the order of Demon∣stration hold the first place, yet in dis∣section they cannot so commodiously be shewn unless the Muscles of the Leg be first remov'd. Which are therefore in demonstrations first to be shew'd.

Notes

• The Lum∣bar Mus∣cle.
• The inner Iliacus.
• The Pecti∣neus.
• The larger Glutaeus.
• The middle Glutaeus.
• The lesser Glutaeus.
• The Tri∣ceps Ad∣ductor.
• The Qua∣drigemi∣ni.
• The Obtu∣ratores: