314 FEMORAL ARTERV. 



becomes the femoral. The femoral artery passes down the inner 

 side of the thigh, from Poupart's ligament, at a point midway be- 

 tween the anterior superior spinous process of the ilium and the 

 symphysis pubis, to the hole in the adductor magnus, at the junction 

 of the middle with the inferior third of the thigh, where it becomes 

 the popliteal artery. 



The femoral artery and vein are enclosed in a strong sheath, 

 femoral or crural canal, which is formed for the greater part of 

 its extent by fibrous and cellular tissue, and by a process of fascia 

 sent inwards from the fascia lata. Near Poupart's ligament this 

 sheath is much larger than the vessels it contains, and is continuous 

 with the fascia transversalis, and iliac fascia. If the sheath be 

 opened at this point, the artery will be seen to be situated in contact 

 with the outer wall of the sheath. The vein lies next to the artery, 

 being separated from it by a fibrous septum, and between the vein 

 and the inner wall of the sheath, and divided from the vein by 

 another thin fibrous septum, is a triangular interval, into which the 

 sac is protruded in femoral hernia. This space is occupied in the 

 normal state of the parts by loose cellular tissue, and by lymphatic 

 vessels which pierce the inner wall of the sheath to make their way 

 to a gland, situated in the femoral ring. 



Relations. The upper third of the femoral artery is superficial, 

 being covered only by the integument, inguinal glands and by the 

 superficial and deep fascise. The lower two-thirds are covered by 

 the sartorius muscle. To its outer side the artery is first in relation 

 with the psoas, next with the rectus, and then with the vastus in- 

 ternus. Behind it rests upon the inner border of the psoas muscle ; 

 it is next separated from the pectineus by the femoral vein, profunda 

 vein and artery, and then lies on the adductor longus to its termina- 

 tion: near the lower border of the adductor longus, it is placed in 

 an aponeurotic canal, formed by an arch of tendinous fibres, thrown 

 from the border of the adductor longus, and the border of the opening 

 in the adductor magnus, to the side of the vastus internus. To its 

 inner side it is in relation at its upper part with the femoral vein, 

 and lower down with the pectineus, the adductor longus, and sar- 

 torius. 



The immediate relations of the artery are the femoral vein, and 

 two saphenous nerves. The vein at Poupart's ligament lies to the 

 inner side of the artery ; but lower down gets altogether behind it. 

 The short saphenous nerve lies to the outer side, and somewhat 

 upon the sheath for the lower two-thirds of its extent ; and the long 

 saphenous nerve is situated within the sheath for the same extent. 



