ARTERIES OF THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY. 



FIG. 257. 



BRANCHES OF THE FEMORAL ARTERY, (Fig. 



The superficial epigastric comes from the femoral, just 

 below Poupart's ligament, pierces the fascia-lata, and as- 

 cends to the umbilicus, immediately 

 beneath the skin, giving branches to 

 the inguinal glands. 



The superficial circumfiexa ilii comes 

 also from the femoral, just below 

 Poupart's ligament, goes through the 

 fascia, and proceeds outward to the 

 crest of the ilium, giving branches 

 to the glands of the groin, the super- 

 ficial fascia, and the skin. 



The external pudic, two or three in 

 number, small, and sometimes coming 

 from a common trunk, are distributed 

 upon the inguinal glands, penis, scro- 

 tum of the male, and labia of the 

 female. 



The prof unda femoris is the largest 

 branch, and comes from the femoral 

 about two inches below Poupart's liga- 

 ment. It descends behind the femoral, 

 and gives off the following branches : 



The external circumflex, which sometimes comes from the 

 femoral, passes behind the sartorius and rectus muscles to 

 the outer side of the thigh, where it divides into three sets 

 of branches, a superior and middle, supplying the tensor 

 vaginre, gluteus medius, and anastomosing with the glu- 

 teal, ischiatic, and internal circumflex arteries ; and a de- 

 scending set, which go to the knee and anastomose with 

 the external articular. 



FIG. 257 represents the Femoral Artery with its branches, a to 6 Femoral 

 artery, c Superficial epigastric, d d External pudics. t e Profunda femoris. 

 / Internal circumflex, g External circumflex, h h Perforating arteries, i 

 Epigastric, j Circumflexa ilii. k Muscular branches. I Superior internal 

 articular, m Branch of the latter. 



