512 



ARTERIES. 



lies in contact with the external iliac vein, and on the outer side of the femoral ring (Fig. 295, 

 1); in such cases it would not be endangered in the operation for femoral hernia. Occasionally, 

 however, it curves inwards along the free margin of Gimbernat's ligament (Fig. 295, 2), and 

 under such circumstances would almost completely encircle the neck of a hernial sac (supposing 

 a hernia to exist in such a case), and would be in great danger of being wounded if an operation 

 was performed. 



Fi?. 295. Variations in Origin and Course of Obturator Artery. 



The Internal Pudic is the smaller of the two terminal branches of the ante- 

 rior trunk of the internal iliac, and supplies the external organs of generation. 

 It passes downwards and outwards to the lower border of the great sacro-sciatic 

 foramen, and emerges from the pelvis between the Pyriformis and Coccygeus 

 muscles; it then crosses the spine of the ischium, and re-enters the pelvis 

 through the lesser sacro-sciatic foramen. The artery now crosses- the Obtu- 



Fig. 296. The Intern il Pudic Artery and its Branches. 



rator Internus muscle, to the ramus of the ischium, being covered by the obtu- 

 rator fascia, and situated about an inch and a half from the margin of the tube- 



