452 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



The nerves which take part in it are as follows : the patellar 

 branch of the long saphenous ; both divisions of the middle 

 cutaneous ; the anterior division of the internal cutaneous ; and 

 the anterior division of the external cutaneous (which, however, 

 is not constant). 



Subsartorial Plexus. — This plexus is situated in the middle third 

 of the thigh on its internar aspect, and lies beneath the sartorius 

 upon the aponeurotic covering of Hunter's canal. The nerves 

 which take part in its formation are as follows : the long saphenous ; 

 the posterior division of the internal cutaneous ; and the superficial 

 or anterior division of the obturator. The branches furnished by 

 this plexus are distributed to the integument of the inner side of 

 the thigh for about its middle third. 



Superficial Fascia. — The only point to be noted in connection 

 with the superficial fascia is that, for about 3 inches below Poupart's 

 ligament, it is divisible into two layers — subcutaneous and deep. 

 The subcutaneous layer is fatty, and, when traced upwards, becomes 

 continuous with the fascia of Camper on the anterior abdominal 

 wall. The deep layer is a very delicate membrane, which is best 

 seen on the inner side of and beneath the long saphenous vein, 

 as that vessel lies between it and the subcutaneous layer. It can 

 be traced upwards to a line about \ inch below Poupart's ligament, 

 where it blends with the fascia lata. In passing upwards it covers 

 the saphenous opening, to the outer margin of which it is closely 

 bound by fibrous bands, more especially over the middle third. 

 The part of this layer which lies over the saphenous opening is 

 called the cribriform fascia, because it presents numerous foramina 

 for the passage of the following structures : (i) the long saphenous 

 vein ; (2) the efferent lymphatics of the inguinal and superficial 

 femoral glands ; (3) the superior external pudic artery ; and (4) the 

 superficial epigastric and superficial circumflex iliac arteries. The 

 latter two vessels, however, sometimes pierce the fascia lata forming 

 the outer margin of the saphenous opening. 



Lymphatic Glands. — ^The glands of the upper part of the front 

 of the thigh are arranged in two groups — superficial and deep. 



Superficial Group. — The glands which comprise this group are 

 arranged in two sets — inguinal and superficial femoral or saphenous. 



The inguinal glands are otherwise called the superior or oblique 

 superfi^cial inguinal glands. They are situated immediately below 

 Poupart's ligament, and lie underneath the subcutaneous layer 

 of the superficial fascia, their long axes being oblique. They 

 are usually from six to eight in number, and the innermost two 

 or three, which lie internal to the upper part of the saphenous 

 opening in the vicinity of the pubic spine, are spoken of as the 

 pubic glands. The inguinal glands receive their aHerent lymphatics 

 from the following sources : 



1. The superficial lymphatics from the infra-umbilical portion of the> 

 anterior wall of the abdomen, except those from the suprapubic region. 



2. The superficial lymphatics from the outer two- thirds of the gluteal region.! 



