Chap. 24.] Arteries of the Thigh and Leg. z$i 



glands, &c. arid communicates with the pudica interna; 

 another goes to the pectineus mufclei and the third, to 

 the upper part of the fartorius. 



Afterwards the trunk of the artery defcends to the 

 head of the os femoris. About three fingers breadth 

 from the ligament of Fallopius, it fends put three con- 

 fiderable branches. The external branch, called the 

 circumfiexa externa, is diftributed to the mufclesof the 

 thigh, fituated before and at the outfide. The middle 

 branch, named the profunda, runs down on the infide 

 of the thigh between the triceps mufcles. The internal 

 branch, called the circumflexa interna, runs backwards 

 towards the great trochanter, and fupplies the mufcles 

 ieated at the pofterior part of the os femoris, and fends 

 a branch into the fubftance of the bone itfelf. 



After having fent offthefe branches, the crural artery, 

 covered by the fartorius mufcle, proceeds down to th 

 bottom of the thigh, and pafles through the tendon of 

 the adduftor magnus, a little above the internal con- 

 dyle of the os femoris; afterwards, continuing its 'courfe 

 through the hollow of the ham, it is called the arteria 

 poplitea. 



While in the ham it fends off branches, which afcend 

 to communicate with thofc of the crural artery. 

 Branches are alfo fent to the joint. When it has reached 

 the back part of the head of the tibia, it gives off two 

 branches, one to each fide. As the poplitea ends, it 

 divides into two principal branches ; one of which runs 

 between the heads of the f .ibia and fibula, patting from 

 behind forwards on the interofleous ligament, where "it 

 takes the name of arteri? i tibialis anterior; the fecond 

 branch divides into two others, the larger called arteria 

 tibialis pofterior, the other arteria peronea pofterior. 



From the anterior, fnperior, or right ventricle of the 

 heart proceeds an arcer y (the pulmonary) nearly equal 



to 



