226 MUSCLES AND FASCI-E OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



II.— MUSCLES ATTD FASCIA OP THE LOWER LIMB. 



The muscles which pass between the trunk and the lower limb, viz., 

 the psoas, pyriformis, coccygens, and part of the gluteus maximus, are 

 so few in number and so intimately connected with others belonging 

 strictly to the limb, that it is unnecessary to describe them as a dis- 

 tinct group, as has been done in the case of the more numerous and 

 considerable muscles which attach the upper limb to the trunk. 



FASCI.ffi OF THE HIP AND THIGH. 



The superficial fascia of the lower limb is similar to and continuous 

 with that of other parts of the body. Over the gluteal region it is very 

 thick, and assists in forming the prominence of the buttock. On the 

 front of the thigh it is readily divisible into two layers. Of these the 

 subcutaneous passes freely over Poupart's ligament, and is continuous 

 with the subcutaneous layer of the abdominal fascia ; internally it 

 passes into the tunica dartos of tlie scrotum and superficial fascia of 

 the perina^um. The deeper layer is separated from the subcutaneous 

 by tlie superficial vessels and lymphatics, and is continuous superiorly 

 and internally with the deeper layer of the superficial fascia of the 

 abdomen. It is firmly bound down to Poupart's ligament, to the front 

 of the fascia lata of the thigh at its upper part, and to the body and 

 ramus of the pubis. It also covers in and partially fills up the saphenous 

 opening of the fascia lata, where from its being perforated by numerous 

 small foramina for the passage of blood-vessels and lymphatics, it 

 receives the name of cribriform, fascia. It is a very thin membrane, 

 and does not contain much fat. It gradually disappears by becoming 

 incorporated with the fascia lata about three inches below the groin. 



The deep fascia or fascia lata of the thigh is a thin but strong 

 aponeurotic membrane, consisting of white shining fibrous tissue, quite 

 devoid of fat, and forming a continuous sheath round the limb. It is 

 attached superiorly to the posterior surface of the sacrum and coccyx, 

 to the crest of the ilium, to Poupart's ligament, to the body and ramus 

 of the pubis, and to the ramus and tuberosity of the ischium. In the 

 gluteal region it descends on the surface of the gluteus medius muscle, 

 as far as the upper border of the gluteus maximus, where it divides 

 into two layers, one of which passes on the superficial, the other on the 

 deep surface of that muscle. After encasing the muscle, the layers 

 unite at its lower and external borders. Over the great trochanter, 

 where the layers unite externally, and where also the fascia is much 

 thickened, the upper fibres of tlie muscle are inserted between the 

 layers. This thickened portion of the fascia may be traced downwards 

 on the outside of the thigh, from the crest of the ilium to the outer 

 tuberosity of the tibia, and to the head of the fibula. This iUo-tihial 

 hand consists of dense glistening parallel fibres, and about the' junction 

 of the upper and middle thirds of the thigh it receives the insertion of 

 the tensor vaginre femoris muscle. On the rest of the thigh the fascia 

 lata varies in thickness. It is tliinnest in the upper and inner part of 

 the thigh, where it covers the adductor muscles, ISTear the knee it is 

 considerably strengthened by tendinous expansions given off from the 

 lower parts of the extensor and flexor muscles of the knee-joint. 



In front of the thigh, a little below and external to the inner end of 



