284 The Nerves and Muscles of the Leg 
and obturator nerves, with branches of which anastomoses are usually 
formed. 
Considering as a group the nerves which supply the front of the thigh 
it is found that the most common form of distribution is that of a mod- 
erately extensive lateral cutaneous nerve associated with two anterior 
and one or two medial cutaneous nerves the branches of which are dis- 
tributed over the front and medial side of the thigh. As a rule the skin 
beyond the knee is supphed mainly by branches from the saphenous. 
This general mode of distribution was found in 64% of instances. In 
about 33% of instances there was an extensive distribution of the lateral 
cutaneous nerve with a more restricted distribution of the anterior and 
medial cutaneous nerves. 
In the following table an attempt has been made to show the number 
of chief nerve branches distributed to the anterior surface of the thigh 
TABLE X. 
Cutaneous | Number of Main Nerve Branches Distributed to the 
Nerves. | Anterior Surface of the Thigh. 
| | | eal | boul 
N. cut. fem. lat.../0}0/1)/1)/1)1/1}/1/1)/1)1}1)1)1)2)/2)2)2)2)2/2)3/3)3)3)4)4) 4 
N. cut. fem. aa | | | | | | | | 
from plexus....|..|..}1]/1]..| 1] --]1].-]--]e-]--]e-]ee | ee] ee] eel ee|cefee| ec} ee] ee} en} ee] eel ects. 
| | hea 
N. cut. fem. ant. en | | 
from N. femor- fe | Ite] lee | ee 
GMliStscectieee sen: 2 AND ee Oe) Py Qe eaei 2 ens B/1j)1) 2/2) 2/2) 3s) 1i1j1i2iri1 2 
| | | | | | | | | | 
N. cut. med....... jj) 1)1}1)1)/2)2)8)2)1 2)1/1 PAU See Eo Shea ab tk |) Pe) a 
| | Hn | 
N. saphenous R. | | | | el hel 
infrapatellaris..|1|1]1)1)/1|)1)0/2)0/)1 L/OjLj1j1jiiij1)2)oj1 Oat yal aby) abi at |) a! 
| | LEAN 
Res weancens.\1 ilelelalela 1 slelalaliia 1/6lij2/si1lelil2}3 2) 56 
13) 3 
Ml] ea (antl | | 
in 87 instances. The lateral cutaneous nerve has been counted as single 
when numerous small rami are given off from the main trunk; as double 
when the nerve divides into two main trunks before or soon after pass- 
ing under the inguinal ligament; as triple and quadruple when it divides 
into three or four main nerve trunks. By separate anterior cutaneous 
is meant a branch arising directly from the plexus. The anterior cuta- 
neous nerve is counted as single when one main trunk arises from the 
femoral nerve; as double when two separate trunks arise; and as triple 
when three such trunks arise. The same is true of the medial cutaneous 
nerve. 
4. N. Saphenous. 
The saphenous nerve is fairly constant in its general mode of distribu- 
tion. The greatest variation comes in the distal extent of its distribu- 
tion. In three instances out of 75 it was found to extend to the great 
