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The muscles of the pelvic girdle and lateral
thigh run from the pelvic girdle to either the thigh or the shank. The most
anterior muscle of the cat thigh is the sartorius. This muscle appears as a
wide, thin band extending from its origin on the ilium to its insertion on the
patella and tibia. The majority of the muscle rests on the medial side of the
thigh, covering nearly half of its anterior surface. The action of this muscle
is to adduct and rotate the thigh and extend the shank. The remaining muscles
of the thigh are located on the medial surface. This group of muscles
originates on the pelvic girdle and inserts on the femur. These muscles act
across the hip joint, and their major action is adduction of the thigh. The
medial surface of the thigh, posterior to the sartorius and quadriceps group is
covered by the gracilis. The gracilis adducts and retracts the leg. Lying
between the sartorius and gracilis are the adductor femoris and the adductor
longus. The adductor femoris originates on the ischium and pubis and inserts
on the femur. The adductor longus originates on the pubis and inserts on the
femur. Both muscles adduct the thigh. |