Muscles of the lower appendages in the cat

	CAT MUSCLES OF THE LOWER APPENDAGES ©David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D. Professor of Biology and Chemistry University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia OH 45103
semitendinosus	This page has been accessed times since 3 December 2001. 3 Dec 1991, rvsd 20Sept94, 30Nov95, 23Sept96, 5Dec96, 4Dec97, 19Sept99, 19Sept00, 30Nov00, 29Nov01	rectus femoris

See also Martini's Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, 5^th, pp 246-355.

B e sure to remove all fascia from surface of muscles to see the muscle edges clearly. Page numbers refer to the page number of appropriate illustrations in Gilbert's Pictorial Anatomy of the Cat. See previous handouts for techniques and preparation of the cat to this point.

This dissection is divided into muscles of the
MEDIAL THIGH Here is a labeled view of the muscles of the medial thigh.
LATERAL THIGH Here is a labeled view of the muscles of the lateral thigh.
LATERAL LEG Here is a labeled view of the anterior muscles of the leg and foot
MEDIAL LEG


MEDIAL THIGH:		Gilbert, pages 32, 34 and 35
	sartorius	origin: anterior superior iliac spine insertion: tibial medial epicondyle cut and reflect
	gracilis	origin: pubis insertion: medial surface of tibia (by an aponeurosis) It is wide and thin, runsdown inside of thigh. Cut and reflect
	tensor fascia lata fascia lata (iliotibial tract)	origin: iliac crest insertion: into the fascia lata Locate where thigh joins abdomen, follow to connective tissue band: fascia lata (an aponeurosis on lateral side of thigh) cut and reflect
	semitendinosus	origin: ischial tuberosity insertion: medial side of the tibia, below the epicondyle It is a round, thin muscle whose tendon inserts in medial side of tibia below the semimembranosus.
	semimembranosus	origin: ischium insertion: medial epicondyle of tibia It is a thick muscle, much larger and more anterior than the semitendinosus in the cat.
	adductor femoris (adductor magnus) adductor longus	both adductor femoris and adductor longus: origin: pubis insertions: medial femur Adductor femoris is large, adjacent to semimembranosus (called adductor magnus in humans) Adductor longus is small, adjacent to and above adductor femoris
	iliopsoas	origin: lumbar vertebrae and medial ilium insertion: lesser trochanter. It is superior and lateral to femoral vessels (which emerge thru the abdominal wall) (Look in rear of abdomen of previously dissected cat for best view.) Here is a labeled view of the muscles of the medial thigh.

LATERAL THIGH:		Gilbert, pages 31 and 33
	biceps femoris (already cut and reflected) sciatic nerve (white cord in picture)	origin: ischial tuberosity insertion: lateral tibia (and patella and leg fascia) It is the large lateral hamstring cut and reflect (Don't cut sciatic nerve )
	gluteus maximus	origin: transverse processes of sacral & caudal vertebrae insertion: greater trochanter small in cat, inserts into femur and fascia lata
	gluteus medius	origin: ilium near the crest insertion: greater trochanter larger than maximus in cat, superior to maximus
	quadriceps femoris , including: vastus lateralis vastus medialis rectus femoris vastus intermedius	origin: all originate on femur except rectus femoris rectus femoris origin: ilium rectus femoris is a round, "hotdog in bun" common insertion: patella
	patella patellar ligament	feel it by wiggling side to side directly over the knee below patella, connects to tibial tuberosity

LATERAL LEG:		Gilbert, pages 31 and 33

	gastrocnemius soleus Achilles tendon	origin: lateral and medial heads of tibia insertion: calcaneous via the achilles tendon calf muscle, superficial to next muscle directly under the gastrocnemius tendon of insertion for next two muscles into calcaneus
	tibialis anterior	origin: proximal ends of tibia and fibula insertion: first metatarsal anterior-most muscle of the lateral compartment, lies along tibia. Its tendon of insertion passes in front of the tibia to the medial side of the foot.
	extensor digitorum longus	origin: lateral epicondyle of tibia insertion: middle and distal phalanges 2-5 four-part insertions cross top of foot extends four toes simultaneously lies under the tibialis anterior next to the tibia. tendon of insertion passes under the transverse ligament, splits into four parts. (Do not confuse its tendon with that of tibialis anterior which angles downin the lower picture) Here is a labeled view of the anterior muscles of the leg and foot
	peroneus longus tendon	origin: proximal fibula insertion: bases of metatarsals passes lateral to lateral malleolus, passes under foot to 1^st metatrsl
	transverse ligaments	retinacula which hold down tendons of insertion

MEDIAL LEG:		Gilbert, pages 32, 34 and 35
	tibialis anterior tendon	origin: proximal tibia and fibula insertion: first metatarsal inserts medial side of first metatarsal (inverts foot)
	flexor digitorum longus	origin: behind tibia, below semitendinosus. insertion: bases of terminal phalanges 2-5 Its tendon lies just behind the tibial malleolus (pull tendon, all toes flex)

Return to the Anatomy and Physiology Table of Contents
or
Go to David Fankhauser's Main Page

Send Email to: FANKHADB@UC.EDU

CAT MUSCLES OF

THE LOWER APPENDAGES