FEMORAL ARTERY. 



323 



escape the knife of the operator. In a preparation in my anatomical col- 

 lection, the branch of communication between the epigastric and obturator 

 arteries is very much enlarged, and takes this dangerous course. 



FEMORAL ARTERY. 



Emerging from beneath Poupart's ligament, the Fig. 158.< 



external iliac artery enters the thigh and becomes 

 the femoral. The femoral artery passes down the 

 inner side of the thigh, from Poupart's ligament, 

 at a point midway between the anterior superior 

 spinous process of the ilium and the symphysis 

 pubis, to the opening in the adductor magnus, at 

 the junction of the middle with the inferior third 

 of the thigh, where it becomes the popliteal artery. 



The femoral artery and vein are enclosed in a 

 strong sheath, femoral or crural canal , which is 

 formed for the greater part of its extent by aponeu- 

 rotic and areolar tissue, and by a process of fascia 

 sent inwards from tbe fascia lata. Near Poupart's 

 ligament this sheath is much larger than the vessels 

 it contains, and is continuous with the fascia trans- 

 versalis and iliac fascia. If the sheath be opened 

 at this point, the artery will be seen to be situated 

 in contact with the outer wall of the sheath. The 

 vein lies next the artery, being separated from it 

 by a fibrous septum, and between the vein and the 

 inner wall of the sheath, and divided from the vein 

 by another thin fibrous septum, is a triangular in- 

 terval, into which the sac is protruded in femoral 

 hernia. This space is occupied in the normal state 

 of the parts by loose areolar tissue, and by lympha- 

 tic vessels which pierce the inner wall of the sheath 

 to make their way to a gland, situated in the femo- 

 ral ring. 



Relations. The upper third of the femoral ar- 

 tery is superficial, being covered only by the integument, inguinal glands, 



* A view of the anterior and inner aspect of the thigh, showing the course and 

 branches of the femoral artery. 1. The lower part of the aponeurosis of the external 

 oblique muscle ; its inferior margin is Poupart's ligament. 2. The external abdominal 

 ring. 3, 3. The upper and lower part of the sartorius muscle; its middle portion 

 having been, removed. 4. The rectus. 5. The vastus internus. G. The patella. 7. 

 The iliacus and psoas ; the latter being nearest the artery. 8. The pectineus. 9. The 

 adductor longus. 10. The tendinous canal for the femoral artery formed by the adduc- 

 tor magnus, and vastus internus muscle. 11. The adductor magnus. 12. The gracilis. 

 13. The tendon of the semi-tendinosus. 14. The femoral artery. 15. The superficial 

 circumflexa ilii artery taking its course along the line of Poupart's ligament, to the crest 

 of the ilium. 2. The superficial epigastric artery. 16. The two external pudic arteries, 

 superficial and deep. 17. The profunda artery, giving off 18, its external circumflex 

 branch ; and lower down the three perforantes. A small bend of the internal circum 

 flex artery (8) is seen behind the inner margin of the femoral, just below the deep ex 

 ternal pudic artery. 19. The anastomotica magna, descending to the knee, upon which 

 it ramifies (6). 



