384 MUSCLES. 



the fascia superficial colli; and even to the face. In ordinary 

 cases its desmoid or aponeurotic character is very equivocal, but 

 where the parts about the groin have been pressed upon and 

 thickened by the irritation of hernial protrusion, it is better 

 marked. On the thigh it is blended with fat; and encloses be- 

 tween its laminae the lymphatic glands of the groin, and the ex- 

 ternal pudic vessels given off from the femoral artery, immedi- 

 ately below Poupart's ligament. On the tendon of the external 

 oblique it is more condensed; branches of the femoral artery 

 are also seen in it there. One longer and larger than the others, 

 the arteria ad cutem abdominis of Haller, winds over Poupart's 

 ligament, and runs upwards somewhat in the line of the epigas- 

 tric artery, to be distributed to the skin of the abdomen : the di- 

 vision of it will produce sufficient hemorrhage to require atten- 

 tion. On the symphysis pubis and about the external ring the 

 laminae of the fascia superficialis are multiplied, and it has 

 more of the character of common adipose matter, as in most 

 cases the adeps there is abundant. From the pubes it may be 

 traced as a condensed cellular membrane blended with the 

 ligamentum suspensorium along the penis to its extremity; and, 

 according to Mr. Colles, of Dublin, when matter is formed be- 

 neath it, it is apt to create fistulous sores on this organ. A 

 thin process of this membrane may be traced along the sper- 

 matic chord, and identified with the tunica vaginalis communis. 

 This fascia is more loosely connected to the parts beneath it, 

 along the anterior margin of Poupart's ligament, than elsewhere, 

 which disposes femoral hernia to observe that course in its in- 

 crease. 



The fascia Superficialis, under the name of Tunica Abdo- 

 minalis, is well developed in animals with a large and project- 

 ing belly, particularly in the large rumiriantia and the solipedia. 

 It has a yellowish tinge in them, is very elastic and strong, and 

 well calculated to support their viscera.* 



There are five pairs of muscles called abdominal; to wit, the 

 External Oblique; the Internal Oblique; the Transverse; the 

 Straight; and the Pyramidal. The first three are flat and 

 broad, and lie in layers one upon the other; the other two are 

 long. 



* Breschet, Thesis sur L'Hcrnie. Paris, 1819. 



