Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

DESCRIPTION OF THE NECK. 213
21. The pyriform (pear-shaped) muscle, found within the cavity
of the pelvis, and on the inside of the aitch-bone and the rump.
Large and composed of soft fibres, in the ox. Its office is to assist
in the extension of the haunch.
22. Levator caudce brevis (the shorter elevator of the tail). It is
used in common with other muscles to move the tail,
23. Levator caudcB longus (the long elevator of the tail).
24. Depressor caudce, by which the tail is pressed upon the haunch,
and that sometimes with a force that would scarcely be thought
possible.
25. The intertransversal muscles, whose oblique fibres run from the
base to the edge of the bones of the tail, through its whole extent,
and by which the lateral motions are effected. By the union of all
of these muscles the tail is made a most effective instrument in
driving away or destroying thousands of winged blood-suckers, by
which the animal would otherwise be tormented.
26. The rectus femoris, or straight muscle of the thigh, runs along
the whole of the anterior portion of the thigh, from the ilium to the
patella, or knee-cap. It is a very conspicuous muscle in the round,
and helps to extend the thigh and advance the haunch.
27. The vasti muscles, so called from their occupying the greater
part of the thigh. The three branches are commonly distinct, but
they are not much developed, for they have not the work to do.
The butcher thinks that there is a great difference between the
round of the beast that has worked, and of another that has not
and he is right, for nothing tends so much to the development of
tne muscular system as regular exercise.
28. The great adductor, or bringer forward of the thigh. This
muscle occupies the external face of the posterior part of the thigh.
It rises as high as the spine of the sacrum, and reaches the anterior
portioa of the leg by three different branches or heads, and thence is
called the triceps adductor femoris. It bends the leg upon the thigh
it carries the whole limb backward in the act of kicking, and also
assists in elevating the fore part of the body in preparing for a leap.
It is large, reaching along, the spine, to the very angle of the croup.
29. The semitendinosus, so called from its half-tendinous construc-
tion, constitutes, with the next muscle, the posterior and internal face
of the haunch and thigh. It is a flexor or bender of the leg.
30. Adductor tibiae longus (the long adductor, or bringer forward
of the thigh ;) sometimes called, from its construction, the semi-tendinosus
muscle. It is a flexor or bender the leg.
The reader is now prepared to enter with us, so far as we can
without being too dryly anatomical, into the consideration of the form
and structure of the neck and trunk of cattle ; and particularly as connected
with the production of milk while living, and beef when dead.
; ;