BRANCHES OF THE EXTERNAL ILIAC VEIN. 327 



The External Iliac Vein. 



The great trunk of the veins of the lower extremity proceeds 

 on the inside of the artery, under the crural arch or Poupart's 

 ligament. Before it passes from under the arch, it sends off 

 two branches, which answer to the circumflex artery of the 

 ilium and to the epigastric artery. 



The Circumjlex Vein. 



Arises from the external side of the iliac vein, and passes 

 towards the anterior end of the spine of the ilium. It divides 

 into branches, which accompany those of the artery of the 

 same name. 



The Epigastric Vein 



Arises from the external iliac, and accompanies the epigas- 

 tric artery. After passing a small distance inward and down^ 

 ward, it turns up on the inside of the abdominal muscles. In 

 the first part of its course it sends off some small branches to 

 the spermatic cord. 



After passing beyond Poupart's ligament, the name of the 

 great vessel is changed from external iliac to 



Femoral Vein. 



It proceeds downwards at first on the inside of the femoral 

 artery, but gradually changes its relative situation, so that, in 

 the thigh and in the ham, it is behind or on the outside of that 

 vessel. 



At a short distance below Poupart's ligament, after giving 

 off some small branches to the external organs of generation, 

 and to the glands of the groin, it sends off, on the internal side 

 of the thigh, a very large vein, which is called the 



Saphena Major. 



This vein immediately becomes superficial, and passes down 

 on the internal side of the thigh, somewhat anteriorly ; giving 

 off some small branches to the contiguous parts soon after it 

 originates ; and many superficial veins afterwards. It con- 



