THE FEMORAL ARTERY. 817 
(7) The perforating arteries (Fig. 575), including the terminal branch of the profunda, 
are four in number. They curve backwards and outwards round the posterior aspect of 
the femur, lying close to the bone, under well-marked tendinous arches, which interrupt the 
continuity of muscular 
attachments; their dl A 
terminal branches Sf \\i Cae Gluteus medius 
enter the vastus ex- = 
ternus and anastomose 
in its substance with 
each other, with the 
descending branch of 
the external -circum- | ¢s 
flex, with the anasto- Po eae 
motic, and with the Internal 
superior external pudicartery \ 
articular branch of gciatic artery — 
the popliteal. 
‘ : Gluteus minimus 
Gluteus maximus — a 
Deep branch of 
gluteal artery 
Obturator internus 
-and gemelli 
Ascending branch 
_ of internal 
circumflex artery 
- i ; Comes nervi 
The first perforating 
artery (a. perforans 
prima) pierces the in- Biceps and 
sertions of the adductors  semitendinosus 
brevis and magnus, and 
some of its branches Semimembranosus 
anastomose beneath the 
gluteus maximus with 
the sciatic, with the 
transverse branch of 
the internal circumflex, 
and with the transverse Adductor magnus —+ 
branch of the external | 
circumflex, forming 
what is known as the ; 
‘ zi Muscular branch 
crucial anastomosis. of profunda artery 
The second perforat- 
ing artery (a. perforans 
secunda) pierces the 
adductors brevis and 
magnus, and then passes 
between the gluteus 
maximus and the short 
head of the biceps into 
the vastus externus. It 
anastomoses with its 
fellows above and below, 
andwith the internal cir- 
cumflex and the upper Gracilis — 
muscular branches’ of 
the popliteal artery. 
The third (a. per- Popliteal artery —— 
forans tertia) and fourth 
perforating arteries pass 
through the adductor 
__Quadratus femoris 
Transverse branch 
of internal 
circumflex artery 
| Ist perforating 
—artery 
2nd perforating 
—— artery 
3rd perforating 
artery 
Termination of 
profunda artery 
(4th perforating) 
—wShort head of biceps 
——— Long head of biceps 
_——Popliteal vein 
Superior external articular 
Superior internal 
articular artery avery, 
magnus and the short hale oe 
head of the biceps into Semitendinosus — 
the vastus externus. Gastrocnemius — 
Their anastomoses are Gastrocnemius 
similar to those of the Muscular artery 
second perforating. \ 
A nutrient branch (a. \\ 
nutricia femoris) to the 
femur is given off either 
from the second or third 
perforating artery, usually the former; an additional nutrient branch may also be supplied by 
the first or fourth perforating arteries. 
Fic. 575.—THE ARTERIES OF THE BUTTOCK AND THE BACK OF THE 
THIGH AND KNEE. 
(5) The anastomotic (a. genu suprema) arises near the termination of 
the femoral artery in the lower part of Hunter’s canal, and divides almost 
immediately into a superficial and a deep branch ; indeed, very frequently the two 
branches arise separately from the femoral trunk 
52 
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