Overview
In the cat it is a single broad sheet covering the cranial border and the cranial half of the medial surface of the thigh; in the dog, by contrast, it has two separate parts.
Origin
Crest and cranial ventral iliac spine of the ilium.
Insertion
Patella and cranial border of the tibia, on its medial side, through the medial femoral fascia.
Action
Adducts the thigh, flexes the hip and helps extend the stifle.
Innervation
Femoral nerve (n. femoralis), through the saphenous nerve.
Clinical relevance
Its caudal border forms the cranial border of the femoral triangle, where the femoral pulse is palpated. In the cat, an absent or weak femoral pulse is a key sign of aortic thromboembolism.