316 FROFUNDA ARTERY. 



Relations. In its course downwards it rests successively upon 

 the pectineus, the conjoined tendon of the psoas and iliacus, ad- 

 ductor brevis and adductor magnus muscles. To its outer side the 

 tendinous insertion of the vastus interims muscle intervenes between 

 it and the femur; and in front it is separated from the femoral artery, 

 above by the profunda vein and femoral vein ; and below by the ad- 

 ductor longus muscle. 



Plan of the relations of the Profunda artery. 



In Front. , 



Profunda vein, 

 Adductor longus. 



Profunda Artery. 



Outer Side. 

 Vastus internus, 

 Femur. 



Behind. 

 Pectineus, 



Tendons of psoas and iliacus, 

 Adductor brevis, 

 Adductor magnus. 



Branches. The branches of the profunda artery are the external 

 circumflex, internal circumflex, and three perforating arteries; 



The External circumflex artery passes outwards between the 

 divisions of the crural nerve, then between the rectus and crurcus 

 muscle, and divides' into three branches ; ascending, which inos- 

 culates with the terminal branches of the gluteal artery ; descending 

 which inosculates with the superior external articular artery ; and 

 middle, which continues the original course of the artery around the 

 thigh, and anastomoses with branches of the ischiatic, internal cir- 

 cumflex, and superior perforating artery. It supplies the muscles 

 on the anterior and outer side of the thigh. 



The Internal circumflex artery is larger than the external; it 

 winds around the inner side of the neck of the femur, passing be- 

 tween the pectineus and psoas, and along the border of the external 

 obturator muscle, to the space between the quadratus femoris and 

 upper border of the adductor magnus, where it anastomoses with 

 the ischiatic, external circumflex, and superior perforating artery. 

 It supplies the muscles on the upper and inner side of the thigh, 

 anastomosing with the obturator artery, and sends a small branch 

 through the notch in the acetabulum into the hip-joint. 



The Superior perforating artery passes backwards between the 

 pectineus and adductor brevis, pierces the adductor magnus near to 

 the femur, and is distributed to the posterior muscles of the thigh; 

 inosculating freely with the circumflex and ischiatic artery, and with 

 the branches of the middle perforating artery. 



The Middle perforating artery pierces the tendons of the adductor 

 brevis .and magnus, and is distributed like the superior ; inosculating 



