Thigh
This thick muscle covers most of the lateral surface of the thigh. The Biceps Femoris originates from the pelvic bones and inserts by an aponerurosis along the tibia.
To isolate it, simply skin the thigh and it is the big, flat muscle that runs almost perpendicular to the length of the leg. |
Biceps Femoris
The tensor fascia latae is a sheet of fascia which lies along the knee and inserts over the tibia. The action of the muscle is to flex the hip and extend the knee.
After removing it, the Rectus Femoris and the Vastus Lateralis will be exposed. |
Tensor Fascia Latae
Larger than the Gluteus Maximus, the Gluteus Medius lies deep to the Maximus and Tensor Fascia Latae. This large muscle extends the hip and abducts the thigh.
After skinning the thigh, it should be located just above the Biceps Femoris, medial to the spine. |
Gluteus Medius
The Vastus Medialis is caudal to the Rectus Femoris on the medial side of the hind leg. You will need to use a blunt probe to separate the Medialis from the Rectus Femoris. This muscle originates from the femur.
On outer side of the leg, lies a similar reflecting muscle called the Vastus Lateralis. |
Vastus Medialis
Mostly covered by the Tensor Fascia Latae, the Rectus Femoris can best be exposed by cutting across the fascia that the Tensor Fascia Latae inserts into and reflecting it. This muscle is the most anterior muscle of the quadriceps group and is located on the anterior side of the thigh.
It can also be seen from the inside of the leg, anterior to the Vastus Medialis. |
Rectus Femoris
The Vastus Lateralis lies on the lateral side of the hind leg once the tensor fascia lata has been reflected.This muscle is found caudal to the rectus femoris.You will need to seperate it from the rectus femoris by using a blunt probe to find the weak point between the two muscles and then extend the separation.
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Vastus Lateralis
The Sartorius lies anterior to the pectineus and the adductor magnus. The thin, narrow triangular band of muscle origninates from the iliac fascia. It also runs at an angle across the medial thigh. Carefully isolate by using blunt probe to make the separation in the connective tissue around sartorius that connects it to the surrounding muscle.
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Sartorius
The gracilis is a broad thin muscle band on the posterior medial side of the hind limb. Originating from the ventral surface of the pubis, this muscle adducts the hind limb. This muscle is easy to spot because it is larger then the others. To isolate, simply clean off connective tissue over its surface, loosen from connective tissue, while carefully avoiding muscle that lies underneath.
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Gracilis
The semitendinosus can be exposed posterior to the biceps femoris. The majority of the muscle lies medial (deep) to the biceps femoris. You can see the muscle from the lateral view of the leg, but it is more exposed from the medial side once the gracilis has been removed.
To remove Gracilis, cut muscle at the top closest to the biceps femoris and allow to flap down onto unskinned side of pig. Part of the Semitendinosus is then revealed, and can be isolated with the blunt probe by gently poking it through the thigh to the other side. |
Semitendinosus
The semimembranosus lies posterior and medial to the semitendinosus. Once the medial side of the leg has been dissected and the gracilis has been reflected, the muscle will be better exposed.
To Isolate, simply loosen the connective tissue beneith the semimembranosus muscle to allow the blunt probe to go under, to the other side. |
Semimembranosus
This muscle is located just cuadal to the pectineus. The triangular band originates from the ventral surface of the pubis and inserts in the femur along its medial side.
Adductor Magnus is visible after Gracilis and Sartorius have been cut and removed from obstruction. Using the blunt probe, you must poke through the connective tissue surrounding the muscl |