288 FASCIA LATA. FEMORAL RING. 



Fig. 115.* 



vessels, and is thence named cribriform fascia. The cribriform fascia 

 is connected with the sheath of the femoral vessels, and forms one of 

 the coverings of femoral hernia. When the iliac portion of the fascia 

 lata is removed from its attachment to Pourpart's ligament and is 

 turned aside, the sheath of the femoral vessels (the femoral or crural 

 canal} is brought into view; and if Poupart's ligament be carefully 

 divided, the sheath may be isolated, and its continuation with the 

 transversalis and iliac fascia clearly demonstrated. In this view the 

 sheath of the femoral vessels is an infundibiliform continuation of the 

 abdominal fascia, closely adherent to the vessels a little way down 

 the thigh, but much larger than the vessels it contains at Poupart's 

 ligament. If the sheath be opened, the artery and vein will be found 

 lying side by side, and occupying the outer two -thirds of the sheath, 

 leaving an infundibiliform interval between the vein and the inner 



* A section of the structures which pass beneath the femoral arch. 1. Pou- 

 part's ligament. 2, 2. The iliac portion of the fascia lata, attached along the 

 margin of the crest of the ilium, and along Poupart's ligament, as far as the 

 spine of the os pubis (3). 4. The pubic portion of the fascia lata, continuous at 

 3 with the iliac portion, and passing outwards behind the sheath of the femoral 

 vessels to its outer border at 5, where it divides into two layers ; one is conti- 

 nuous with the sheath of the psoas (6) and iliacus (/) ; the other (8) is lost upon 

 the capsule of the hip-joint (9). 10. The crural nerve, enclosed in the sheath of 

 the psoas and iliacus. 11. Gimbernat's ligament. 12. The femoral ring, 

 within the femoral sheath. 13. The femoral vein. 14. The femoral artery; 

 the two vessels and the ring are surrounded by the femoral sheath, and thin 

 septa are sent between the anterior and posterior wall of the sheath, dividing 

 the artery from the vein, and the vein from the femoral ring. 



