ANTERIOR FEMORAL REGION. 407 



The iliac portion is all that part of the fascia lata on the outer side of the 

 saphenous opening. It is attached, externally, to the crest of the ilium, and its 

 anterior superior spine, to the whole length of Poupart's ligament, as far inter- 

 nally as the spine of the pubes, and to the pectineal line in conjunction with 

 Gimbernat's ligament. From the spine of the pubes, it is reflected downwards 

 and outwards, forming an arched margin, the superior cornu, or outer boundary 

 of the saphenous opening ; this margin overlies, and is adherent to the anterior 

 layer of the sheath of the femoral vessels ; to its edge is attached the cribriform 

 fascia, and, below, it is continuous with the pubic portion of the fascia lata. 



The pubic portion is situated at the inner side of the saphenous opening; at 

 the lower margin of this aperture it is continuous with the iliac portion; traced 

 upwards, it is seen to cover the surface of the Pectrneus muscle, and passing 

 behind the sheath of the femoral vessels, to which it is closely united, is con- 

 tinuous with the sheath of the Psoas and Iliacus muscles, and is finally lost in 

 the fibrous capsule of the hip-joint. This fascia is attached above to the pecti- 

 neal line in front of the insertion of the aponeurosis of the External Oblique, 

 and internally to the margin of the pubic arch. From this description it may 

 be observed, that the iliac portion of the fascia lata passes in front of the femo- 

 ral vessels, and the pubic portion behind them, so that an apparent aperture 

 exists between the two, through which the internal saphenous joins the femoral 

 veins. 1 



The fascia should now be removed from the surface of the muscles. This may be effected by 

 pinching it up between the forceps, dividing it, and separating it from each muscle in the course 

 of its fibres. 



The Tensor Vaginoe Femoris is a short flat muscle, situated at the upper and 

 outer side of the thigh. It arises from the anterior part of the outer lip of the 

 crest of the ilium, and from the outer surface of the anterior superior spinous 

 process, between the Gluteus Medius a,nd Sartorius. The muscle passes obliquely 

 downwards, and a little backwards, to be inserted into the fascia lata, about 

 one-fourth down the outer side of the thigh. 



Relations. By its superficial surface, with the fascia lata and the integument. 

 By its deep surface, with the Gluteus Medius, Eectus Fernoris, Vastus Externus, 

 and the ascending branches of the external circumflex artery. By its anterior 

 border, with the Sartorius, from which it is separated below by a triangular 

 space, in which is seen the Rectus Femoris. By its posterior border, with the 

 Gluteus Medius. 



The Sartorius, the longest muscle in the body, is flat, narrow, and ribbon - 

 like: it arises by tendinous fibres from the anterior superior spinous process 

 of the ilium and upper half of the notch below it, passes obliquely across the 

 upper and anterior part of the thigh, from the outer to the inner side of the 

 limb, then descends vertically, as far as the inner side of the knee, passing 

 behind the inner condyle of the femur, and terminates in a tendon, which 

 curving obliquely forwards, expands into a broad aponeurosis, inserted into the 

 upper part of the inner surface of the shaft of the tibia, nearly as far forwards 

 as the crest. This expansion covers the insertion of the tendons of the Gracilis 

 and Semitendinosus, with which it is partially united, a synovial bursa being 

 interposed between them. An offset is derived from this aponeurosis, which 

 blends with the fibrous capsule of the knee-joint, and another, given off from 

 its lower border, blends with the fascia on the inner side of the leg. The rela- 

 tions of this muscle to the femoral artery should be carefully examined, as its 

 inner border forms the chief guide in tying the artery. In the upper third of 

 the thigh, it forms, with the Adductor Longus, the side of a triangular space, 

 Scarpa's triangle, the base of which, turned upwards, is formed by Poupart's 

 ligament; the femoral artery passes perpendicularly through the middle of this 



' These parts will be again more particularly described with the anatomy of Hernia. 



