THIGH AND LEG. 



39 



its attachment to : (i) The patella ; (2) the tuberosities ; (3) the condyles ; (4) 

 the crest and inner surface of the tibia. In the ankle region, see its attachment : 

 (i) To the os calcis ; (2) to the malleoli ; (3) to the tuberosity of the scaphoid 

 bone and numerous other places. 



Saphenous Opening. This is the largest opening in the deep fascia. It is 

 situated between the iliac and pubic portions of the fascia lata. Behind it, or on its 

 floor, is the femoral sheath, containing the femoral artery, vein, and canal. In 

 front of the opening, forming its roof or covering, is the superficial fascia, called 

 in this locality, the cribriform fascia. The structures passing through the 

 saphenous opening are numerous : the long saphenous vein and the small vessels 

 given off from the common femoral artery and vein, and some lymphatic vessels. 



Cribriform Fascia. Just that part of the deep layer of the superficial fascia, 

 that covers the saphenous opening, is called by this name. It was so called on 

 account of the numerous perforations, transmitting the structures referred to in 

 the previous paragraph. The word " cribriform " means sieve-like. 



Importance. Since fascia often determines the direction taken by burrowing 

 pus, or the course of a bullet, its various superficial attachments should be care- 



FIG. 212. THE FEMORAL RING AND SAPHENOUS OPKNING. (After Holden.) 



(The arrow is introduced into the femoral ring.) 



i. Crural arch. 2. Saphenous opening of the fascia lata. 3. Saphena vein. 4. Femoral vein. 

 5. Gimbernat's ligament. 6. External abdominal ring. 7. Position of internal ring. 



fully examined, and its deep ones found by dissection. The guide to finding 

 these is to remember that muscles are arranged in antagonistic groups, and that 

 these groups are called musculatures, and that these musculatures are separated by 

 septa, and these septa are attached to bone i. e., continuous with its periosteum. 



The Application. Now apply the principle of musculatures to the lower ex- 

 tremity. On the thigh you will presently find: (i) An extensor group of mus- 

 cles in front ; (2) a flexor group behind ; (3) an adductor group internally. 



You will also find: (i) A septum between the extensor group and flexor 

 group ; (2) between the flexor group and the adductor group ; (3) between the 

 adductor group and the extensor group. 



Again, below the knee you will find : (i) A group of muscles on the anterior 

 tibio-fibular region ; (2) a group on the outer surface of the fibula ; (3) two groups 

 on the posterior tibio-fibular region. Here, also, you may demonstrate the rule 

 that adjacent musculatures are separated from one another by fascial septa, since 

 here are strong bands of fascia separating the peronei muscles on the outer sur- 

 face of the fibula, from different musculatures both in front and behind. Like- 

 wise, on the back of the leg, the superficial group is separated from the deep by 

 the transverse fascia, and both these groups from lateral musculatures. 



