942 



THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 



The anterior branch forms a communication with the accessory obturator 

 nerve, if that nerve is present, and then descends behind the pectineus and adductor 

 longus and in front of the obturator externus and adductor magnus muscles 

 (fig. 690). Its branches are: 



1. A communicating twig to the accessory obturator nerve if the latter is present. 



2. An articular branch to the hip-joint. 



3. Muscular branches to the gracilis, adductor longus, and, usually, to the 

 adductor brevis. 



4. Two terminal branches, of which one is distributed to the femoral artery 

 and the other communicates with the subsartorial plexus. The subsartorial branch 



FIG. 690. ANTERIOR CRURAL AND OBTURATOR NERVES. (Ellis.) 



Femoral vein 



Femora/ 



OBTURATOR (ANTERIOR DIV.) 



OBTURATOR (POSTERIOR 

 DIVISION) 



Adductor longut 



Adductor brevis 



OBTURATOR 



(ANTERIOR 



DIVISION) 



Gracilis 



Adductor magnus 



(IKXICULATE 



BRANCH Of 



OBTURATOR 



ieini-membranoBus 



Sartorius 

 IliacuB 



FEMORAL 



Psoas 



Tensor fascia: latae 



Pi'oftnida artery 



~ Pectineus 

 Rectus femoriu 



SAP11EXOUS 



NF.RVE TO VASTVS 

 MEDIALK 



Adductor longus 



Femoral artery 



Genu suprema artery 



PA TEL LA R BRA NCH OF 



SAPHENOVS 



is occasionally longer than usual, and it then descends, along the posterior border of 

 the sartorius, to the inner side of the knee, where it enters the subcutaneous tissue, 

 and, proceeding downwards, supplies the skin on the inner side of the leg as far 

 as the middle of the calf. It anastomoses with the saphenous. 



The posterior branch (fig. 690) pierces the upper part of the obturator externus, 

 and passes downwards between the adductor brevis and adductor magnus. Its 

 branches are: 



1. Muscular branches to the obturator externus, the oblique fibres of the 

 adductor magnus, and to the adductor brevis when the latter is not entirely sup- 



