464 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



3. Anterior wall of the femoral sheath, or fascia transversalis. 



4. Cribriform fascia. 



5. Subcutaneous layer of superficial fascia. 



6. Skin. 



The septum crurale is usually inseparably united with the anterior wall 

 of the femoral sheath, thus forming the fascia propria of Cooper. The neck 

 of the sac is on a level with the base of Gimbernat's ligament, which is the 

 most common cause of strangulation. 



Prepatellar Bursa. — ^This bursa, which is of large size, is situated 

 on the anterior surface of the patella beneath the integument. 

 When it becomes inflamed the condition is known as housemaid' s 

 knee. There may be another subfascial bursa, between the fascia lata 

 over the patella and the bone. 



Anterior Femoral Muscles. Sartorius — Origin. — (i) The anterior 

 superior iliac spine, and (2) the upper part of the anterior inter- 

 spinous notch of the ilium. 



Insertion. — ^The internal surface of the shaft of the tibia immedi- 

 ately behind the tubercle. From the tendon of insertion two 

 expansions are given off — one from the upper border to the capsule 

 of the knee-joint, and another from the lower border to the deep 

 fascia of the leg. 



Nerve-supply. — ^The anterior division of the anterior femoral nerve, 

 the branches from which, arising in common with the middle 

 cutaneous nerve, enter the muscle near the apex of Scarpa's triangle. 



Action. — Acting from its origin the muscle is (i) a flexor of the 

 knee-joint, and an internal rotator of the leg ; and (2) a flexor of 

 the hip-joint, and an external rotator and abductor of the thigh. 

 Acting from its insertion it is a flexor of the pelvis upon the thigh. 



The sartorius is a long ribbon-like muscle, the fasciculi of which 

 are the longest of any muscle in the body. The muscle, therefore, 

 has a wide range of movement, but comparatively little power. 

 It is at first directed downwards and inwards over the front of the 

 thigh, where it forms, by its inner border, the outer boundary of 

 Scarpa's triangle. Having crossed the superficial femoral artery 

 at a point about 3^ inches below Poupart's ligament, the muscle 

 passes vertically downwards as far as the internal condyle of the 

 femur. Beyond this point, it curves forwards to its insertion, 

 where it covers the subjacent tendons of the gracilis and semi- 

 tendinosus, from which it is separated by a bursa. This bursa is a 

 prolongation oi that which lies between the internal lateral ligament 

 of the knee-joint and the more superficially placed tendons of the 

 gracilis and semitendinosus. The muscle, in its lower part, is usually 

 pierced by the patellar branch of the long saphenous nerve. 



The two most important relations of the sartorius are as follows : 

 (i) it crosses the superficial femoral artery from without inwards 

 at a point about 3| inches below Poupai"t's ligament ; and (2) it 

 covers the superficial femoral artery in Hunter's canal. 



Tensor Fasciae Femoris. — Although this muscle is on the same 

 plane as the gluteus maximus, it may be described in this place. 



