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FASCJJ3 OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY. 



The superficial fascia contains between its two layers the super- 

 ficial vessels and nerves of the lower extremity. At the groin these 

 two layers are separated from each other by the superficial lymphatic 

 glands, and the deep layer is attached to Poupart's ligament, while 

 the superficial layer is continuous with the superficial fascia of the 

 abdomen. 



The deep fascia of the thigh is named, from its great extent, the 

 fascia lata ; it is thick and strong upon the outer side of the limb, 

 and thinner upon its inner and posterior side. That portion of fascia 

 which invests the gluteus maximus is very thin, but that which covers 

 in the gluteus medius is excessively thick, and gives origin, by its 

 inner surface, to the superficial fibres of that muscle. The fascia lata 

 is attached superiorly to Poupart's ligament, the crest of the ilium, 

 sacrum, coccyx, tuberosity of the ischium, ramus of the ischium and 

 pubes, and body of the pubes ; in the thigh it is inserted into the linea 

 aspera, and around the knee is connected with the prominent points of 

 that joint. It possesses also two muscular attachments, by means 

 of the tensor vaginae femoris, which is inserted between its two layers 

 on the outer side, and the gluteus maximus, which is attached, to it 

 behind. 



In addition to the smaller openings in the fascia lata which transmit 

 the small cutaneous vessels and nerves, there exists at the upper and 

 inner extremity of the thigh an oblique foramen, which gives passage 

 to the superficial lymphatic vessels, and the large subcutaneous vein of 

 the lower extremity, the internal saphenous vein, and is thence named 

 the sap/ienous opening. The existence of this opening has given rise 

 to the division of the upper part of the fascia lata into two portions, 

 an iliac portion and a pubic portion. 



The iliac portion is situated upon the iliac side of the opening. It 

 is attached to the crest of the ilium, and along Poupart's ligament to 

 the spine of the os pubis, whence it is reflected downwards and outwards 

 in an arched direction, and forms a falciform border, which constitutes 

 the outer boundary of the saphenous opening. The edge of this 

 border immediately overlies, and is reflected upon, the sheath of the 

 femoral vessels, and the lower extremity of the curve is continuous 

 with the pubic portion. 



The pubic portion, occupying the pubic side of the saphenous 

 opening, is attached to the spine of the os pubis and pectineal line ; 

 and, passing outwards behind the sheath of the femoral vessels, 

 divides into two layers ; the anterior layer is continuous with that 

 portion of the iliac fascia which forms the sheath of the iliacus and 

 psoas muscles, and the posterior layer is lost upon the capsule of the 

 hip-joint. 



The interval between the falciform border of the iliac portion and 

 the opposite surface of the pubic portion is closed by a fibrous layer, 

 which is pierced by numerous openings for the passage of lymphatic 



