546 FASCIA OF THE ABDOMEN. 



dorsum of the penis, forming a suspensory ligament. It 

 gives covering to the spermatic cord, which descends into 

 the scrotum, and is continuous with the fascia of the per- 

 ineum. This fascia, called also Camper's fascia, is thin 

 and weak above, and strong and dense below, where it 

 envelops the glands and a quantity of adipose matter, 

 and has hence received the additional name of adipo-gland- 

 ular structure. About an inch below Poupart's ligament 

 it becomes closely connected with the fascia lata, in conse- 

 quence of which adhesion, femoral hernia is disposed to" 

 take the upward direction. In some of the lower animals 

 this fascia is well developed presents a yellowish aspect, 

 and is very strong and elastic, by which arrangement it 

 is well adapted to protect and support the abdominal 

 viscera. 



The fascia transversalis is situated beneath the trans- 

 verse muscle, and rests upon the peritoneum. It is of va- 

 rying strength and consistency at different points, being 

 cellular in some, and decidedly aponeurotic in others. It 

 is generally a thin tendinous membrane, distinctly fibrous 

 and strong in each inguinal region, and closely adhering 

 to the transverse muscle. It is attached to the inner mar- 

 gin of Poupart's ligament its whole length, to the-crista 

 of the pubes behind the common tendon of the internal 

 oblique and transverse muscles, to the external margin of 

 the rectus, thence lining the transverse muscle, and the 

 whole of the abdomen as high as the thorax. 



The lower portion of this fascia is extremely interesting 

 from its connection with inguinal hernia. As already 

 stated, it is here very strong and aponeurotic, and closely 

 attached to the whole of Poupart's ligament. Dissection, 

 however, shows that it does not stop at this ligament, but 

 that a portion can be traced beneath the crural arch, in 

 front of the femoral vessels, called their anterior sheath; 

 and backward, as continuous with the fascia iliaca, a strong 

 membrane covering the iliacus and psoas muscles. Where 

 these two fasciae meet and are united to Poupart's liga- 

 ment, there is seen a white, dense line, extending, in some- 



