94 ANTHROPOLOGY. 



superficial pubic, to the pubes ; the superficial epigastric; and the external 

 circumfiex ilii^ to the skin about the crest of the ihum, 



h. The profunda. This, the hirgest branch of the femoral, arises about 

 two inches below the crural arch, from the outer and back part of the femo- 

 ral artery, and descends behind it. At the back part of the thigh it termi- 

 nates in two branches for the hamstring muscles, and in its course gives off 

 the two circumflex, and the three perforating arteries. The external cir- 

 cumfiex arises from the outer part of the profunda, and, passing transversely 

 beneath the sartorius and rectus muscles, divides into three fasciculi of 

 branches. The internal circumflex arises near the preceding, sometimes from 

 the femoral itself, and passes to the back part of the thigh. The first^ or supe- 

 rior perforating artery^ passes backwards beneath the lesser trochanter to the 

 adductor magnus and to the hamstring muscles. The second^ or middle 

 perforating artery^ passes through the adductor magnus and brevis to the 

 muscles on the back of the thigh. The third.^ or inferior perforating artery.^ 

 descends behind the adductor longus to the hamstrings. On the back part 

 of the thigh the profunda ends in two branches, of which one passes to the 

 biceps, the other to the semi-membranosus. 



c. After the origin of the profunda, the femoral gives off several small 

 twigs, and near the opening in the triceps it gives off a third, the anastomo- 

 tica magna, whiah descends in front of the adductor tendon to the knee, 

 and sends several branches to the integuments, vastus externus, and to the 

 patella. 



4. The Popliteal Artery descends from the inner side of the femur, 

 outwards to the inferior and central part of the poplitai'al space. Its branches 

 are: 1. Several muscular branches to the hamstrings, and to the gastrocne- 

 mius ; 2. Superior articular, which encircle the lower extremity of the femur, 

 and communicate with the anastomotica ; 3. Azygos artictdar, passing for- 

 wards through the posterior ligament of the joint to the synovial membrane, 

 and the adipose substance in its cavity ; 4. Inferior articular arteries, which 

 encircle the lower part of the joint to its fore part, and inosculate with the 

 preceding, and with the anterior tibial recurrent. At the lower part of the 

 ham the poplitaeal divides into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. 



5. The Anterior Tibial Artery perforates the interosseous space close 

 to the head of the fibula, descends along the interosseous membrane, and 

 over the lower part of the tibia, to the first interosseous space. It gives off: 

 1. The recurrent to the articulation of the knee ; 2. Muscular branches to the 

 muscles on the outer and anterior part of the leg ; 3. Malleolar branches to 

 the internal and external malleoli ; 4 and 5. Tarsal and metatarsal; between 

 the two first metatarsal bones it divides into, 6, the anterior pollicis to the 

 integuments, and 7. communicans to the first interosseal muscles. 



6. The Posterior Tibial Artery descends between the superficial and 

 deep layer of muscles on the back of the leg, to the space between the heel 

 and inner ankle, where it divides into the external and internal plantar 

 arteries. It gives off: 1. Several muscular branches; 2. The peronmal 

 artery. This arises about an inch below the popliti^eal, and, descending to 

 the ankle, divides into the anterior and posterior peronoeal branches. The 



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