FEMORAL HERNIA SUPERFICIAL DISSECTION. 831 



ot the abdomen, perineum, and buttock ; the lower chain receives the lymphatic 

 vessels from the lower extremity. 



The nerves supplying the integument of this region are derived from the ilio- 

 inguinal, the genito-crural, and anterior crural. The ilio-inguinal nerve mav 

 be found on the inner side of the internal saphenous vein, the terminal branch 

 of the genito-crural nerve outside the vein, and the middle and external cuta- 

 neous nerves more external. 



Fig. 449. Femoral Hernia. Superficial Dissection. 



I 1 ' 



The deep layer of superficial fascia should be divided in the same direction 

 as the external incisions, and separated from the fascia lata ; this is easily 

 effected, from its extreme thinness. It is a thin but dense membrane, placed 

 beneath the subcutaneous vessels and nerves, and upon the surface of the fascia 

 lata. It is intimately adherent above to the lower margin of Poupart's liga- 

 ment, and about one inch below this ligament covers the saphenous opening in 

 the fascia lata, is closely united to its circumference, and is connected to the 

 sheath of the femoral vessels corresponding to its under surface. The portion 

 of fascia covering this aperture is perforated by the internal saphenous vein, 

 and by numerous blood and lymphatic vessels ; hence it has been termed the 

 cribriform fascia, the openings of these vessels having been likened to the holes 

 in a sieve. The cribriform fascia adheres closely both to the superficial fascia 

 and the fascia lata, so that it is described by some anatomists as a part of the 

 fascia lata, but is usually considered (as in this work) as belonging to the super- 

 ficial fascia. It is not till the cribriform fascia has been cleared away, that the 

 saphenous opening is seen, so that this opening does not, in ordinary cases, 



