Musculus iliotrochantericus anticus (Fig.[ 3]).—Covered laterally by the m. iliotrochantericus posticus, this slender muscle has a fleshy origin from the anteroventral edge of the ilium between the origins of the m. sartorius anteriorly and the m. iliotrochantericus medius posteriorly. The m. iliotrochantericus anticus is directed caudoventrally and inserts by a broad, flat tendon on the anterolateral surface of the femur between the heads of the m. femorotibialis externus and m. femorotibialis medius and just distal to the insertion of the m. iliotrochantericus medius.
Action.—Moves femur forward and rotates it anteriorly.
Comparison.—No significant differences noted among the species studied.
Musculus iliotrochantericus medius (Fig.[ 3]).—Smallest of the three iliotrochantericus muscles, this bandlike muscle has a fleshy origin from the ventral edge of the ilium just posterior to the origin of the m. iliotrochantericus anticus. The fibers are directed caudoventrally, and the insertion is tendinous on the anterolateral surface of the femur between the insertion of the other two iliotrochantericus muscles.
Action.—Moves femur forward and rotates it anteriorly.
Comparison.—No significant differences noted among the species studied.
Musculus iliacus (Figs.[ 4],[ 5]).—Arising from a fleshy origin on the ventral edge of the ilium just posterior to the origin of the m. iliotrochantericus medius, this small slender muscle passes posteroventrally to its fleshy insertion on the posteromedial surface of the femur just proximal to the origin of the m. femorotibialis internus.
Action.—Moves femur forward and rotates it posteriorly.
Comparison.—No significant differences among the species studied.
Musculus sartorius (Figs.[ 1],[ 4]).—A long, straplike muscle, the sartorius forms the anterior edge of the thigh. The origin is fleshy, half from the anterior edge of the ilium and from the median dorsal ridge of this bone and half from the posterior one or two free dorsal vertebrae. The insertion is fleshy along a narrow line on the anteromedial edge of the head of the tibia and on the medial region of the patellar tendon.