458 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



lip of the pubic crest. This pubic lamina, when followed out- 

 wards, passes behind the crural sheath and ends by blending with 

 its posterior wall. It will thus be seen that the iliac lamina is 

 superficial or anterior to the femoral vessels enclosed in the crural 

 sheath, and that the pubic lamina is on a plane deeper than, or 

 posterior to, the femoral vessels. 



Processes of the Fascia Lata. — ^These processes, which for the most 

 part are indicated on the surface by white lines, pass between the 

 muscles, forming intermuscular septa, and taking part in the 

 muscular sheaths. Three of them are specially noteworthy, and 

 are called external, internal, and posterior. The external inter- 

 muscular septum is a deep expansion from the ilio- tibial band, 

 and it is attached to the outer lip of the linea aspera and 

 external supracondylar ridge of the femur in its whole extent. 

 It separates the vastus oxternus and crureus in front from the 

 femoral head of the biceps behind, and it gives partial origin 

 to these muscles. The internal intermuscular septum is a delicate 

 process, which is attached to the inner lip of the linea aspera, 

 especially in its lower part. Over the internal supracondylar ridge 

 its place is taken by an expansion from the tendon of the adductor 

 magnus. This septum separates the vastus internus in front from 

 the adductor longus and adductor magnus behind. The posterior 

 intermuscular septum is a very delicate process which is attached 

 to the summit of the linea aspera. It is situated behind the 

 adductor magnus, which it separates from the femoral head of the 

 biceps. 



Saphenous Opening. — This is an opening in the fascia lata for 

 the passage of the long saphenous vein, and it is of importance 

 surgically inasmuch as a femoral hernia may protrude through 

 it. It is situated on the front of the thigh below and outside 

 the pubic spine, just below the inner third of Poupart's liga- 

 ment. It is not so much an opening as an oval depression in 

 the fascia lata, formed by the division of that fascia into its iliac 

 and pubic laminae, the iliac lamina passing upwards superficial to 

 the outer part of the anterior wall of the crural sheath, and the pubic 

 lamina passing upwards on a plane posterior to the posterior wall 

 of the crural sheath, with which it becomes continuous. The 

 average length of the opening is i| inches, and its breadth is from 

 ^ to f inch. The lower border of the opening is called the inferior 

 cornu, and over this the long saphenous vein passes. It is firm, 

 sharp, and crescentic, with the concavity directed upwards. The 

 inner part, formed by the pubic lamina of the fascia lata, is for the 

 most part flat, the fascia being here spread out upon the pectineus 

 muscle, whence it passes outwards to blend with the posterior wall 

 of the crural sheath. Over the lower fourth, however, the opening 

 has a distinct inner border, which is continuous with the inferior 

 cornu. The outer border, formed by the iliac lamina of the fascia 

 lata, is on a plane superficial to the outer part of the anterior wall 

 of the crural sheath, to which it is bound by fibrous bands. In- 



