468 MYOLOGY 



Superficial Fascia. The superficial fascia forms a continuous layer over the whole 

 of the thigh; it consists of areolar tissue containing in its meshes much fat, and may 

 be separated into two or more layers, between which are found the superficial 

 vessels and nerves. It varies in thickness in different parts of the limb ; in the groin 

 it is thick, and the two layers are separated from one another by the superficial 

 inguinal lymph glands, the great saphenous vein, and several smaller vessels. 

 The superficial layer is continuous above with the superficial fascia of the abdomen. 

 The deep layer of the superficial fascia is a very thin, fibrous stratum, best marked 

 on the medial side of the great saphenous vein and below the inguinal ligament. 

 It is placed beneath the subcutaneous vessels and nerves and upon the surface of the 

 fascia lata. It is intimately adherent to the fascia lata a little below the inguinal 

 ligament. It covers the fossa ovalis (saphenous opening), being closely united to 

 its circumference, and is connected to the sheath of the femoral vessels. The 

 portion of fascia covering this fossa is perforated by the great saphenous vein and 

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

 cribrosa, the openings for these vessels having been likened to the holes in a sieve. 

 A large subcutaneous bursa is found in the superficial fascia over the patella. 



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

 the fascia lata ; it constitutes an investment for the \vhole of this region of the limb, 

 but varies in thickness in different parts. Thus, it is thicker in the upper and lateral 

 part of the thigh, where it receives a fibrous expansion from the Glutaeus maximus, 

 and where the Tensor fasciae latae is inserted between its layers; it is very thin 

 behind and at the upper and medial part, where it covers the Adductor muscles, 

 and again becomes stronger around the knee, receiving fibrous expansions from the 

 tendon of the Biceps femoris laterally, from the Sartorius medially, and from the 

 Quadriceps femoris in front. The fascia lata is attached, above and behind, to the 

 back of the sacrum and coccyx; laterally, to the iliac crest; in front, to the inguinal 

 ligament, and to the superior ramus of the pubis; and medially, to the inferior 

 ramus of the pubis, to the inferior ramus and tuberosity of the ischium, and to 

 the lower border of the sacrotuberous ligament. From its attachment to the iliac 

 crest it passes down over the Glutaeus medius to the upper border of the Glutaeus 

 maximus, where it splits into two layers, one passing superficial to and the other 

 beneath this muscle; at the lower border of the muscle the two layers reunite. 

 Laterally, the fascia lata receives the greater part of the tendon of insertion of 

 the Glutaeus maximus, and becomes proportionately thickened. The portion of 

 the fascia lata attached to the front part of the iliac crest, and corresponding to 

 the origin of the Tensor fasciae latae, extends down the lateral side of the thigh as 

 two layers, one superficial to and the other beneath this muscle; at the lower end 

 of the muscle these two layers unite and form a strong band, having first received 

 the insertion of the muscle. This band is continued downward, under the name 

 of the iliotibial band (tractus iliotibialis) and is attached to the lateral condyle of 

 the tibia. The part of the iliotibial band which lies beneath the Tensor fasciae 

 latae is prolonged upward to join the lateral part of the capsule of the hip-joint. 

 Below, the fasciae lata is attached to all the prominent points around the knee- 

 joint, viz., the condyles of the femur and tibia, and the head of the fibula. On 

 either side of the patella it is strengthened by transverse fibers from the lower parts 

 of the Vasti, which are attached to and support this bone. Of these the lateral 

 are the stronger, and are continuous with the iliotibial band. The deep surface 

 of the fascia lata gives off two strong ihtermuscular septa, which are attached 

 to the whole length of the linea aspera and its prolongations above and below ; 

 the lateral and stronger one, which extends from the insertion of the Glutaeus 

 maximus to the lateral condyle, separates the Vastus lateralis in front from the 

 short head of the Biceps femoris behind, and gives partial origin to these mus- 

 cles; the medial and thinner one separates the Vastus medialis from the Adduc- 



