THE ABDOMEN 665 



For the superficial lymphatics of the antero-lateral abdominal 

 wall, see p. 646. 



Fascia Transversal is. — ^The fascia transversalis is situated imder- 

 neath the transversalis abdominis muscle. It is of greatest strength 

 over the lower part of the abdominal wall, particularly between 

 the lower free border of the transversalis and Poupart's ligament. 

 When traced upwards to the costal margin it becomes very thin, 

 and is there continuous with the fascia which covers the abdominal 

 surface of the diaphragm. Along the linea alba it is continuous 

 with the fascia of the opposite side. In the lumbar region it is 

 continuous with the anterior wall of the sheath of the quadratus 

 lumborum. In the region of the iliac crest it is attached to 

 the anterior two-thirds of the crest immediately internal to its 

 inner lip, where it meets and becomes continuous with the fascia 

 iliaca, both of these fasciae being here interposed between the 

 transversalis and iliacus muscles. The most important disposition 

 of the fascia is along the line of the groin, where its attachments 

 are as follows : along the outer half of Poupart's ligament it is 

 firmly attached to that ligament on its deep aspect, and over that 

 extent it meets and is continuous with the fascia iliaca, the two 

 fasciae here forming a canal, which contains the deep circumflex 

 iliac vessels. In the situation of the external iliac vessels, and as 

 far inwards as the base of Gimbernat's ligament, it is only loosely 

 attached to Poupart's ligament, and is here prolonged downwards 

 beneath the ligament to the thigh, where it lies in front of the 

 common femoral vessels, and forms the anterior wall of the crural 

 sheath. As the fascia is prolonged beneath Poupart's ligament it 

 is strengthened by superadded fibres, which are known as the deep 

 crural arch. In the region of Gimbernat's ligament the fascia is 

 attached in succession to the pectineal portion of the ilio-pectineal 

 line behind the conjoined tendon, and to the pubic crest. Behind 

 the symphysis pubis the fascia descends into the pelvis, and becomes 

 continuous with the pubo- prostatic, or anterior true, ligaments of 

 the bladder. The strongest part of the fascia transversalis, as before 

 stated, is between the lower free border of the transversalis muscle and 

 Poupart's ligament, this part of the abdominal wall being uncovered 

 by muscular structures. It is in this situation where the fascia is 

 pierced by the spermatic cord in the male and the roxmd ligament 

 of the uterus in the female. 



Internal Abdominal Ring. — ^This ring is situated in the fascia 

 transversalis at a point midway between the symphysis pubis and 

 the anterior superior iliac spine, and h inch above Poupart's liga- 

 ment. It serves for the passage of the spermatic cord in the male 

 and the round ligament of the uterus in the female. As viewed 

 from before no opening is visible in the undissected state, because 

 the fascia transversalis is prolonged from the margins of the aper- 

 ture round the spermatic cord as the infundibuliform or internal 

 spermatic fascia. Wlien fully dissected the ring is oval, with the 

 long axis lying vertically, in which direction it measures f inch, 



