THE KNEE. 49 



' the fold of the buttock,' which separates the nates from the 

 back of the thigh, corresponds with the lower border of the 

 gluteus maximus. Its altered direction in disease of the hip 

 is very characteristic. This is the best place to feel for the 

 great ischiatic nerve. We find it by pressing deeply between 

 the trochanter and the tuber ischii, rather nearer to the latter. 

 When we sit upright, the nerve is not liable to pressure ; but 

 it becomes numbed when we sit long sideways. 



105. Gluteal artery. To find at what point the gluteal 

 artery comes out of the pelvis, draw a line from the posterior 

 superior spine of the ilium to the top of the trochanter major, 

 rotated inwards. The junction of the inner with the middle 

 third of this line lies over the artery as it emerges from the 

 upper border of the great ischiatic notch. 



The point of exit of the ischiatic artery from the pelvis is 

 about half an inch lower than that of the gluteal. 



1 06. Pudic artery. The pudic artery crosses the spine 

 of the ischium. To find it, draw a line from the outer side 

 of the tuber ischii to the posterior superior spine of the ilium. 

 The junction of the lower with the middle third gives the 

 position of the artery. The ischiatic artery lies close to it, 

 but nearer the middle line. 



Looking at the course of these arteries it appears that 

 when we sit on hard seats the pressure is sustained by the 

 bones ; when we recline on soft seats the pressure is sustained 

 more by the soft parts, and reaches the arteries ; hence the 

 tendency of modern modes of reposing to drive the blood 

 into the interior of the pelvis and favour the production of 

 piles and uterine disorders. A celebrated French accoucheur 

 used to say that the fashion of high waists, tight lacing, and 

 easy chairs brought him many thousands a year. 



THE KNEE. 



107. Bony points. The patella ; the tuberosities of the 

 two condyles ; the tubercle of the tibia for the attachment of 

 the ligamentum patellae ; another (the lateral) tubercle, on the 



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