LEG

Certain bones form the aspects and some of the shape of the legs. The shins, the anterior surface of the Tibia, support the shape of the front of the lower leg. Likewise, the shape of the Patella is apparent. The length of the tibia and femur helps form the apparent length of the leg.

The tubercle at the head extremity, the crest of the tibia (the shin itself) along the shaft, and the Internal malleolus are close to the skin. These surfaces form some of the cosmetic shape of the leg at the front. Of course, the other notes of care and importance of appearance applies to these areas while the deep surfaces could be a bit more "mechanical."

Even though these bits could be "Trivia," the measurements of Betty Grable's legs [Boyd, 16 Nov 1990] (absolute?) follow as a specimen:

Thigh

Longer, shapelier, neater legs are more desirable in feminine androids. Shorter and stronger are usually considered masculine and suitable for "mandroids."

There are many pictures of feminine legs. Some are better in appearance than others and some are nice in different ways. In order to make reasonable comparisons, consider bare legs and legs wearing hosiery separately. However, there seems to be a curious generality from personal observations: A larger percentage of girls with the "nicest" legs do not always have the prettiest "doll-like" faces.

One of the artistic questions of the ages is how to describe what is a most attractive feminine leg? The "I do not know how to do this, but I know it when I see it" will not suffice (it did not work legally defining "pornography"). Legs are one of the three primary areas associated with a type of man by his object of attraction. These are: "Leg men," "fanny fanciers," and "breast men."

Certainly the attributes of "smooth" and "sleek" are the skin characteristics of a presentable, "nice gam. " A cinnamon hue to any of many skin tones are also frequently attributed, but a pink or alabaster flesh color can appear as "stunning" given a nice appearing shape as by definition. Hair, moles, scars, tatoos; for most, varicose veins, etc. detract from legs that otherwise have the nice appearing aspects.

"Long" legs are more desirable than short or average legs with the same cross sections. Presumably, nice looking legs can be described in terms of cross sections, vertical sections, and other views.
.    Cross sections of most of the attractive leg are generally round, even though these of ugly or masculine legs are also roundish. This applies from the top of the shaft of the thigh through to the knee and from below the knee to the appearance of the Achilles tendon. From the tendon to the ankle, the roundness is altered for the tendon.

.    Vertical sections, at least of the lateral view, are silhouettes of nice legs. Obviously, any perspective establishes its own section. Vertical sections off the complete lateral silhouette approach ellipsoids. The posterior section of an anterio-posterior view also approach elliptical, but the axis are not vertical or horizontal, but askew.

.    An "other view" was suggested by the askew axis orientation of some views. The shape of the calf , mostly the bellies of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, when viewed from the back is an example.

Above the taper of the thigh is the shape of the hip which is a separate discussion even though the lines should be seamless. Then the question of what is a nice looking or complimentary foot applies from the ankle to the tip of the toenails.

Notes From Prosthetics:

Sometimes the medical discipline of prosthetics provides some information usable in androtics. Certain dimensions of an artificial leg may be helpful. And yet, hopefully androtics can aid making better looking and more functional synthetic limbs.

Designing/Engineering Notes:

There are no applicable engineering notes to the legs, yet, as of . The specimen mentioned near the beginning of this topic do not help much other than for a woman of her size and her leg aspects. With the missing girths at the knees even that source is severely limited.

Frame Elements:

Since the leg bones usually support weight, mating these parts for tensile or torsional strength may not be as critical as other strengths. The frame elements of the legs comprise 45% of the frame dry weight. (Does this 45% include the bones of the feet?. See [Gray (old) pg. 355]) These are:

.    Femurs (= thighbone).

.    Tibias (= shin).

.    Fibulas.

And the
.    Patellas (= kneecap).

Although the Patellas are the knee caps and could be part of the "Knee" topic, they are listed here to complete this topic about the legs.

Articulations:

The knee articulation is purely of the leg topic. The hips and ankles are at the ends of the legs and may be consistent with another topic. However, there is a Tibio-Fibular articulation that is important of the innermost layer.

[1]    Incorporate the Superior Tibio-Fibular Articulation [Gray, p.282] ligatures in the following order:
[1.1]    Synovial Membrane is upper and posterior of the joint. Sometimes these fibers merge with the knee.

[1.2]    Posterior Superior Ligament. See [Gray, Fig. 184] for human application.

[1.3]    Anterior Superior Ligament. See [Gray, Fig. 185] for human application.

[1.4]    The Capsular ligament could be applied in a subsequent layer. It can be applied with these or installing it can be deferred. This is listed here so that if it is inadvertently omitted in later discussions for outer layers, this matter may not be lost.

the Tibia and Fibula articulations need to be researched and developed better. Notice that the "Inferior Tibio-Fibular Articulations" belong in the Ankle section. See the Ankle topic for those ligatures.

[2]    There is an interosseus ligament ("Middle" [Gray, p.282] between the Tibia and Fibula that is clearly separate from that of the knee. This ligament is in this section too because some of these ligatures attach to the head of the Fibula.

When the ligatures are applied, the Tibias can be attached to the main jig. The center of the shin is the point where the bracket is bolted to the main jig. This can be in position until the outermost layer of muscles and fascia is applied.

Innermost Layer of Muscles and Other Tissues:

This innermost layer of tissues is almost an extension of the "Articulations" topic. These comprise this deepest layer's muscles, tendons, and ligatures. This region may still include the innermost muscles that pass through the pelvis. The Pelvis and Waist and the Of the Feet sections, with this include most of the muscles primarily involved in walking.

Gray's Anatomy has many subsections for this topic. The applicable adductors for this innermost layer of adductors of the legs are:

.    Psoas magnus was discussed in the section about the Pelvis and Waist.

.    Psoas parvus was also discussed in the section about the Pelvis and Waist. In fact, in an older edition of the Android Makers Handbook, the Psoas group was discussed in the legs topical region.

.    Iliacus was discussed in the section about the Pelvis and Waist too.

Sometimes the Iliacus and the Psoas are regarded as one two-headed muscle [Gray, p. 417 f.]. The symmetrical actions of this muscle group bend the lumbar portion of the spine and pelvis forward or raise the trunk from a recumbent position given allowed movement. If one side acts from above, this flexes the thigh with respect to the pelvis. (Doubtless very instrumental in the initial step of walking.)

As was mentioned early in the handbook, the Hatfield Type Androids are not made by detachable components like dolls or manikins. This is why many muscle pairs do not fit exclusively into one of these subjects and ignored in adjacent areas or related topics. The applicable tissues and adductors for this innermost layer of the legs are:

.    Adductor longus.

.    Adductor magnus.

These two muscles rotate the thigh outward, assisting the external rotators, suggesting a part of walking. They also assist the action or gesture of crossing the legs.

Intermediate Layer of Muscles and Other Tissues:

This region may still include the intermediary layers of muscles and fascia that pass through the pelvis. The Pelvis and Waist and the Of the Feet sections, with this include most of the muscles primarily involved in walking.

Gray's Anatomy has many subsections for this topic. The applicable muscles for this intermediary layer of tissues of the legs are:

For the deeper of the middle layer:

.    Flexor longus digitorum

and
.    Gracilis.

For the middle of the middle layer:

.    Pectineus,

.    Peroneus brevis,

and
.    Soleus.

Outermost muscles and fascia of the middle layer of human muscles for androids:

.    Peroneus longus,

.    Rectus femoris,

.    Crureus,

.    Plantaris,

.    Vastus Externus,

and the
.    Vastus Internus.

Internal Components:

The respective internal components to the legs is an empty topic. There are no other internal components to an android's legs.

Outermost Layer of Muscles and Other Tissues:

This region may still include muscles that pass through the pelvis at the outermost layer. The Pelvis and Waist and the Feet sections, with this, include most of the muscles primarily involved in walking.

Gray's Anatomy has many subsections for this topic, but it is not clear yet if those distinctions are important for this androtic discipline. The applicable human and android muscles for this last, outermost layer of the legs are:

.    Biceps,

.    Extensor longus digitorum,

.    Extensor proprius hallucis,

.    (see [Gray, p.424]) (The purpose of this entry was lost during the process of the second revision of the handbook. This area seems too deep, by layer, for this discussion topic.)

.    Fascia lata,

.    Gastrocnemius,

.    Peroneus tertius,

.    Sartorius,

.    Semimembranosis,

.    Semitendinosus,

.    Tendo Achillis,

.    Tensor fasciae femoris,

.    Tensor fasciae latae,

.    Tibialis anterior,

and the
.    Tibialis anticus.

In general, much of this layering of muscles has been, admittedly, very tedious. It is unfortunate, but humans have so many muscles. Androtics tries to eliminate the unneeded muscles, combine those that do the same thing, and try to simplify where possible.

Final Layers and Artifacts:

Certain subcutaneous fat is used to protect the skin from articulation abrading. A little more in femdroids with their curvier, neater legs adds to the feminine softness desired.

The skin is the last major component. It is also the only final layer item of interest for this "Legs" topic. The skin must also be applied over the entire android in one application until a means of making seamless, imperceptible joints is invented.

Inspection Criteria:

The geometry of the pair should be symmetrical.assuming that your desired android is as symmetrical as possible to construct. Any asymmetry is due to precision of the model design and frame construction procedures which should be adequate for most desired human likeness.

Approximately half of the body height should be represented between the center of the ball of the hip joint; of the femur-to-the condyles of the Tibia. This should be consistent with the "crotch height."

The knees should bend in a hinge-like manner from a straight extension-to-folded nearly double. Inspection criteria for the ankles, knees, and hips are best described within those topics. These topics are repeated within this topic's "Index" subsection.

Trivia:

"If 34 percent of your weight is in your legs, you're typical." [Boyd, 13 Oct. `94].

"Report is the average woman's thighs are an inch and a half larger than the average man's." [Boyd, 31 Mar. `94]

INDEX:    See "Women's Perfect Figure," "Ankles," "Knees," and "Hips."