256 FASCIAE OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY. 



ment, and broad over the heads of the metacarpal bones, where it 

 divides into eight slips, which are inserted into the sides of the bases 

 of the phalanges of each finger. The fascia is strengthened at its 

 point of division into slips by strong fasciculi of transverse fibres, 

 and the arched interval left between the slips gives passage to the 

 tendons of the flexor muscles. The arches between the fingers 

 transmit the digital vessels and nerves, and lumbricales muscles. 



FASCIJE OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY. 



The superficial fascia contains between its two layers the super- 

 ficial vessels and nerves of the lower extremity. At the groin these 

 two layers are separated from each other by the superficial lymphatic 

 glands, and the deeper layer is attached to Poupart's ligament, 

 while the superficial layer is continuous with the superficial fascia 

 of the abdomen. 



The deep fascia of the thigh is named, from its great extent, the 

 fascia lata ; it is thick and strong upon the outer side of the limb, 

 and^hinner upon its inner and posterior side. That portion of fascia 

 which invests the gluteus maximus is very thin, but that which covers 

 in the gluteus medius is excessively thick, and gives origin, by its 

 inner surface, to the superficial fibres of that muscle. The fascia 

 lata is attached superiorly to Poupart's ligament, the crest of the 

 ilium, sacrum, coccyx, tuberosity of the ischium, ramus of the 

 ischium and os pubis and body of the os pubis ; in the thigh it is 

 inserted into the linea aspera, and around the knee is connected with 

 the prominent points of that joint. It possesses also two muscular 

 attachments, by means of the tensor vagina? femoris, which is 

 inserted between its two layers on the outer side, and the gluteus 

 maximus which is attached to it behind. 



In addition to the smaller openings in the fascia lata which trans- 

 mit the small cutaneous vessels and nerves, there exists at the upper 

 and inner extremity of the thigh an oblique foramen, which gives 

 passage to the superficial lymphatic vessels, and the large subcu- 

 taneous vein of the lower extremity, the internal saphenous vein, and 

 is thence named the saphenous opening. The existence of this 

 opening has given rise to the division of the upper part of the fascia 

 lata into two portions, an iliac portion and a pubic portion. 



The iliac portion is situated upon the iliac side of the opening. 

 It is attached to the crest of the ilium, and along Poupart's ligament 

 to the spine of the os pubis, whence it is reflected downwards and 

 outwards in an arched direction, and forms a falciform border, which 

 constitutes the outer boundary of the saphenous opening. The edge 

 of this border immediately overlies, and is reflected upon, the sheath 

 of the femoral vessels, and the lower extremity of the curve is con- 

 tinuous with the pubic portion. 



The pubic portion, occupying the pubic side of the saphenous 

 opening, is attached to the spine of the os pubis and pectineal line ; 

 and, passing outwards behind the sheath of the femoral vessels, 



