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CHAP. XXXV. Of the Muscles moving the Thigh.
THe Muscles of the Thigh are just fourteen in number: that is, two bend it,* 1.1 whereupon they are called Flexores, or benders; three extend it, whereupon they are called Ten∣sores, extenders; three move it inwards, driving the Knee outwards, and drawing the heel inwards, as when we cross our Legs; yet some make these three one, and call it the Triceps, or three-headed Muscle. Six spread it abroad, and dilate it, as happens in the act of Venery.
Four of these are called Gemini, or Twins, by reason of the similitude of their thickness, ori∣ginal insertion, and action; the two other are called Obturatores, because they stop the hole which is common to the Share and Back-bone.
Now one of the two Flexores, being round,* 1.2 descends on the inside with fibers of an une∣qual length from all the transverse processes of the loins, above the hind-commissure of the Hanch and Share-bones, and is inserted into the little Trochanter; the other broader and larger from the original passes forth of the whole lip, and inner brow of the Hanch-bone, and filling the inner cavity thereof, is inserted above the fore-part of the head of the Thigh, into the little Tro∣chanter by a thick Tendon, which it with the fellow Muscle lately described, produces even from the fleshy part thereof, wherefore you need to take no great pains in drawing, or plucking them away.
The three Tensores, or Extenders, make the Buttocks, of which the first being the thicker,* 1.3 lar∣ger, and external, arising from the Rump, the Holy-bone, and more then half of the exteriour and hinder lip of the Hanch-bone, is inserted by oblique fibers, some four-fingers bredth from the great Trochanter at the right-line, which we said, resembled an Asses-back.
The second, which is the middle in bigness and site, descends from the rest of the lip, and from the fore and out-ward Rib of the Hanch-bone, and, above the midst of the Bone, is inserted in∣to the upper part of the great Trochanter, by a triangular insertion above the upper and exterior part thereof.
The third being lesser, shorter and thinner, lying hid under these former, proceeds from the middle of the external surface of the Hanch-bone; and then is inserted into the greater part of the right line of the great Trochanter.
These three Muscles have a great and large original, but a narrow insertion, as it were, by ob∣lique fibers.
Then follow those three Muscles which move the Thighs inwards, straiten and cross them,* 1.4 so that the Knee stands forwards, or outwards, but the heel is drawn inwards, as you may understand by their insertion, although some think otherwise. But these three Muscles by their original, partly fleshy, and partly membranous; arise from the upper and fore-part of the circumference of the Share-bone, and thence are inserted into the hind-line of the huckle-bone, some higher than othersome; for the lesser and shorter stays at the roots of the little Trochanter, the middle de∣scends a little deeper, the third with the longest of his fibers, descends even to the midst of the line.
This, if it be so, that is, these Muscles proceeding from the fore and upper part, to be inserted into the hinder-line of the Huckle-bone, whilst they alone perform their action, and draw the Thighs together, they will turn them outwards, just so as when we put them across, but they will not draw one heel to another, and put the heel outwards, for such like motion is performed by the inner vast Muscle of the Thigh, moving the Leg. Now follow the six which move the Buttocks.
The first, and higher of the Quadragemini, or the four Twin-muscles,* 1.5 passes forth of the com∣missure of the Holy-bone, with the bone of the Rump, or rather, from the lowest extream of the Holy-bone, and thence it is inserted into the cavity of the great Trochanter by a Tendon of a suffi∣cient largeness.
The second proceeding from the hollow part, or fissure, which is between the extremity of the Huckle-bone, and the tuberosity, or swelling out of the same, is inserted in like manner into the cavity of the great Trochanter.
The third ascends from the inner part of the swelling out of the Huckle-bone, a little above, between the two Trochanters, into the cavity of the greater of them.
The fourth and last, the lowest and broadest of them all, proceeds from all the exteriour protu∣berancy of the Huckle-bone, and thence is inserted into the Great Trochanter, and these four Muscles lie hid under the thick and more eminent part of the Buttocks; wherefore, that you may the better shew them, they must be turned up towards their original.
The two Obturatores remain to be spoken of, that is, the internal and external,* 1.6 both which arise from the circuit and circumference of the hole which they stop, which, as we said, is common to the Share and Huckle-bone, but the internal ascends to the exterior root of the great Trochanter by the middle fissure between the upper part of the protuberancy of the Huckle-bone, and the Spine which stands up in the hinder basis of the Hanch-bone.
But the external proceeds from the exteriour cavity, and the middle space between the tube∣rosity of the Huckle-bone, and cavity thereof, and is inserted into the lower part into the cavity of the great Trochanter, together with the Quadragemini.
If you would plainly see the exteriour Obturator, you must either cut off the beginning of the three-headed Muscle, or handsomly pluck it away, and then extend it, and turn it up; the internal is easily discerned when the Bladder is taken away.