POPLITEAL ARTERY. 303 



The Perforating Arteries 



Are two or three ramifications of the profunda, which pass 

 through the adductor muscles, and are expended upon the 

 flexor muscles on the back of the thigh. Some of the termi- 

 nating branches of the profunda itself are also called perforating 

 arteries. 



The next branch of importance which is sent off by the 

 Femoral artery, leaves it before it enters the aperture in the 

 tendon of the adductors, and is called 



The Anastomotic Artery. 



This vessel soon inclines downwards. Its ramifications 

 extend into the vastus internus muscle ; some of them follow 

 the tendon of the adductors, and ramify about the internal 

 condyle. 



Several small branches go off from the great artery soon 

 after it passes through the tendon of the adductors, which are 

 distributed to the contiguous muscles. Some of them are also 

 called 



Perforating Arteries. 



Among them is the principal Medullary or Nutritious Artery 

 of the OS femoris. 



In the ham, the great artery and vein are called Popliteal. 



The Popliteal Artery 



Generally sends off several small branches. Two of them go 

 off on the inside, one above and the other below the knee ; 

 and two on the outside in the same manner. They are named, 

 from their situation, The Superior and Inferior Internal, and 

 The Superior and Inferior External Articulating Arteries. 



The Superior Internal artery perforates the tendon of the 

 adductors above the internal condyle, and ramifies minutely on 

 the inner side of the joint. 



The Superior External artery passes through the lower 

 portion of the biceps above the external condyle, and ramifies 

 minutely on the outer side of the joint. Its superior ramifica- 

 tions anastomose with those of the descending branch of the 



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