PROFUNDA. 523 



The External Circumflex Artery supplies the muscles on the front of the 

 thigh. It arises from the outer side of the profunda, passes horizontally out- 

 wards, between the divisions of the anterior crural nerve, and beneath the Sar- 

 torius and Eectus muscles, and divides into three sets of branches, ascending, 

 transverse, and descending. 



The ascending branches pass upwards, beneath the Tensor Vagina Femoris 

 muscle, to the outer side of the hip, anastomosing with the terminal branches 

 of the gluteal and circumflex iliac arteries. 



The descending branches, three or four in number, pass downwards, beneath 

 the Eectus, upon the Vasti muscles, to which they are distributed, one or two 

 passing beneath the Yastus Externus as far as the knee, anastomosing with the 

 superior articular branches of the popliteal artery. 



The transverse branches, the smallest and least numerous, pass outwards over 

 the Cruraeus, pierce the Vastus Externus, and wind round the femur to its back 

 part, just below the great trochanter, anastomosing at the back of the thigh with 

 the internal circumflex, sciatic, and superior perforating arteries. 



The Internal Circumflex Artery, smaller than the external, arises from the 

 inner and back part of the profunda, and winds round the inner side of the 

 femur, between the Pectineus and Psoas muscles. On reaching the tendon of 

 the Obturator Externus, it gives off two branches, one of which ascends to be 

 distributed to the Adductor muscles, the Gracilis, and Obturator Externus, 

 anastomosing with the obturator artery; the other descends, and passes beneath 

 the Adductor Brevis, to supply it and the great Adductor; while the continua- 

 tion of the vessel passes backwards, between the Quadratus Femoris and upper 

 border of the Adductor Magnus, anastomosing with the sciatic, external circum- 

 flex, and superior perforating arteries. Opposite the hip-joint, this branch gives 

 off an articular vessel, which enters the joint beneath the transverse ligament; 

 and, after supplying the adipose tissue, passes along 'the round ligament to the 

 head of the bone. 



The Perforating Arteries (Fig. 297), usually three in number, are so called 

 from their perforating the tendons of the Adductor Brevis and Adductor 

 Magnus muscles to reach the back of the thigh. The first is given off above 

 the Adductor Brevis, the second in front of that muscle, and the third imme- 

 diately below it. 



The first or superior perforating artery passes backwards between the Pectineus 

 and Abductor Brevis (sometimes perforates the latter); it then pierces the Ad- 

 ductor Magnus close to the linea aspera, and divides into branches which supply 

 both Adductors, the Biceps, and Glutens Maximus muscle ; anastomosing with 

 the sciatic, internal circumflex, and middle perforating arteries. 



The second or middle perforating artery, larger than the first, pierces the ten- 

 dons of the Adductor Brevis and Adductor Magnus muscles, and divides into 

 ascending and descending branches, which supply the flexor muscles of the 

 thigh, anastomosing with the superior and inferior perforating. The nutrient 

 artery of the femur is usually given off from this branch. 



The third or inferior perforating artery is given off below the Adductor Brevis; 

 it pierces the Adductor Magnus, and divides into branches which supply the 

 flexor muscles of the thigh ; anastomosing with the perforating arteries above, 

 and with the terminal branches of the profunda below. 



Muscular branches are given off from the superficial femoral throughout its 

 entire course. They vary from two to seven in number, and supply chiefly the 

 Sartorius and Vastus Internus. 



The Anastomotica Magna arises from the femoral artery just before it passes 

 through the tendinous opening in the Adductor Magnus muscle, and divides 

 into a superficial and deep branch. 



The superficial branch accompanies the long saphenous nerve, beneath the 

 Sartorius, and, piercing the fascia lata, is distributed to the integument. 



The deep branch descends in the substance of the Vastus Internus, lying in 



