80

60
from the proximal end of the tibia: this tendon moreover receives the long slender tendon
sent off obliquely across the front of the knee-joint from the pectineus (T), by which its
origin is extended to the pelvis. This accessory tendon perforates the inner fleshy sur-
face of the muscle, and is finally lost about half-way down the carneous part. Before
the flexor perforatus is joined by the tendon of the pectineus, it subdivides posteriorly
into four muscular fasciculi. The anterior division receives principally the above tendon,
and this division of the muscle becomes wholly tendinous two-thirds down the leg; its
tendon (3) passes through the posterior part of the pulley of the gastrocnemius, and ex-
pands as it passes along the metatarus: a thick ligamentous substance is developed in
it opposite the joint of the proximal phalanx of the second toe, into the sides of which
it is inserted, dividing for the purpose, and giving passage to the two other flexor ten-
dons of that toe. The second portion of the present muscle terminates in a tendon (4)
situated behind the preceding, which passes through a distinct sheath behind the tarsal
joint, expands into a sesamoid fibro-cartilage beneath the corresponding expansion of
the previous tendon, which it perforates, and then becomes itself the perforated tendon
of the second phalanx of the second toe, in the sides of which it is inserted. The third
portion of this muscle ends in a somewhat smaller tendon (5) than the preceding, which
forms the second perforatus flexor of the third or middle toe. The fourth and most pos-
terior portion soon becomes a distinct muscle; its fleshy fibres cease on the inner side
one-fourth down the leg, but on the outside they are continued three-fourths down the
leg; its tendon (6) passes through the gastrocnemial pulley behind the ankle-joint, and
divides to form a sheath for the flexor perforatus of the fourth toe; it is then joined by the
tendon of the peroneus (7), which passes through a pulley across the external malleolus, and finally becomes the perforated tendon of the first phlanx of the middle or third toe.

Pectineus (Pl. XI. XIV. T), (Rectus anticus femoris of Cuvier* and Meckel†). - This is
a long, thin, narrow strip of muscle arising from the spine of the pubis, anterior to the
acetabulum, and passing straight down the inner side of the thigh; it degenerates into a
small round tendon near the knee, which tendon traverses a pulley, formed by an oblique
perforation in the strong rotular tendon of the extensors of the leg, and thus passing
across the knee-joint to the outer side of the leg, finally expands, and is lost in the flexor
perforatus digitorum last described. It is this muscle which causes the toes to be bent
when the knee is bent.

Peroneus longus (Pl. XI. XIV. 7). - Origin. Tendinous from the head of the tibia, and
by carneous fibres from the upper half of the anterior margin of the tibia; these fibres
pass obliquely to a marginal tendon, which becomes stronger and of a rounded form
where it leaves the muscle. The tendon gives off a broad, thin, aponeurotic sheath to
be inserted into the capsule of the tarsal joint; it is then continued through a synovial
pulley on the side of the outer malleolus and is finally inserted or continue into the
perforated tendon of the middle toe(6).
*Leçons d'Anat. Comp. ed. 1836, p. 523 †Vergleich. Anat., Th. iii. p.365.