THE THIGH. 



5 2 5 



The Femoral Artery in Hunter 's Canal. The femoral artery in Hunter's canal 

 has the vein, to which it is closely bound by fibrous tissue, first posterior and then 

 slightly to its outer side. The internal or long saphenous nerve crosses the artery in 

 front from its outer to its inner side. At the beginning of the canal the nerve to 

 the vastus internus runs alongside of the long saphenous nerve, but it soon leaves it 

 to enter the muscle. The long saphenous nerve leaves the artery as the latter per- 

 forates the adductor magnus and passes downward under the sartorius muscle to 

 be distributed to the leg lower down, and to the inner side of the ankle. 



Ligation of the Femoral Artery in Hunter 1 s Canal. In ligating the artery 

 the incision is made over the sartorius muscle, which is to be pulled to the outer 

 side; this exposes the roof of the canal, which is then opened. There is no need of 



, Skin 



Superficial fascia 



Fascia lata 



Sartorius muscle 



External condyle of femur 



Skin 



Superficial fascia 

 Fascia lata 



Femoral vein 

 Femoral artery 



Long saphenous nerve 



Patella 



FIG. 53 4. Ligation of the femoral artery at the apex of Scarpa's triangle. 



including the long saphenous nerve in the ligature. Just before the femoral artery 

 pierces the adductor magnus it gives off the anastomotica magna, whose superficial 

 branch follows the long saphenous nerve, while its deep branch supplies the vastus 

 internus muscle. This latter branch may be the source of troublesome hemorrhage 

 in supracondylar osteotomy. 



Collateral Circulation. After ligation of the femoral artery below its profunda 

 branch the external circumflex artery anastomoses with the muscular branches of the 

 femoral, anastomotica magna, and superior articular arteries. The perforating arte- 

 ries anastomose with the muscular branches below the ligature and with the superior 

 articular arteries (Fig. 535). 



Long or Internal Saphenous Vein. The long saphenous vein begins in 

 the venous arch on the dorsum of the foot and passes upward just in front of the 

 internal malleolus, then along the inner posterior edge of the tibia, accompanied by 



