236 



THE VASCULAR SYSTEM. 



Fig- 155- 



b. The femoral artery [Arteria femoral is s. cniralis), (Fig. iSbf) 

 is the representative of the femoral artery of man, although it does 

 not perform the same functions. The artery passes under the 

 hinder free border of the M. ohliqnus infernns to the thigh, where it 

 lies upon the M. ilio-psoas, and sends twigs to the neighbouring 

 muscles, the skin, and lymph-sac [Lamina inguinalis), and then 

 divides into : — 



(i) A twig, which runs forwards on the ventral surface of the 

 iliac bone and is covered by the epigastric artery. 



(2) A twig, running forwards and do \vn wards on the MM. ilio- 

 psoas, vastus iidernus, and sartoriiis, to send branches to the hip-joint. 



c. The spermatic artery [Arteria spermaticd), which arises, in 

 males, from the iliac artery, and ascends to the Vesicula seminalis. 



7. Arteries of the hinder 

 extremity. 



A. The sciatic artery [Arte- 

 ria ischiadica), (Fig. 156 i) is the 

 continuation of the iliac artery ; 

 it leaves the pelvis between the 

 hinder (outer) border of the M. 

 coccj/geo-iliacus and the inner 

 surface of the origin of the M. 

 ilio-psoas, then lies between the 

 former muscle and the origin of 

 the M. vastus externus. It ap- 

 pears on the thigh between the M. 

 vasttis externus (in front) and the 

 M. jpyriformis (behind) ; it is the 

 main arterial trunk for the hinder 

 extremity. The artery courses 

 backwards, lying upon the sciatic 

 nerve and between the M. hiceps 

 and the M. semimembranosus ; in 

 this course it runs in a lymph- 

 space placed in the Septum fémorale superius (see page 259). 

 Arrived at the popliteal space the artery bifurcates to form the 

 peroneal and tibial arteries; near the pelvis it gives off two 

 branches (a) and (b), and in its course along the thigh two 

 branches (c) and (d). 



a. The Art. haemorrhoidalis inferior [h) runs backwards and 



Bifurcation of the aorta and the iliac arteries. 



e Epigastric artery. 



ev Vesico-epigastxic ai"tery. 



Femoral ai-tery. 



Internal oblique muscle. 



Vesical artery. 



/ 



