SAPHENOUS NERVES. 425 



to the vastus externus is found on the outer side of the lower third of the 

 thigh. 



The Muscular branches are several large twigs which are distributed to 

 the muscles of the anterior aspect of the thigh. One of these is sent to 

 the rectus ; one to the vastus externus, which gives off a cutaneous twig 

 to the outer aspect of the thigh ; one to the cruraeus, and one large and 

 long branch to the vastus interims. From the two latter, filaments are 

 distributed to the periosteum and knee joint. The sartorius receives its 

 supply of nerves from the cutaneous nerves by which it is perforated. 



The Branch to the femoral sheath is a small nerve which passes inwards 

 to the sheath of the femoral vessels at the upper part of the thigh, and di- 

 vides into several filaments which surround the femoral and profunda ves- 

 sels. Two of these filaments, one from the front, and the other from the 

 posterior part of the sheath, unite to form a small nerve which escapes 

 from the saphenous opening and passes downwards with the saphenous 

 vein. Other filaments are distributed to the adductor muscles, and com- 

 municate with the long saphenous nervr\ 



The Short saphenous nerve (n. cutaneus internus) inclines inwards to 

 the sheath of the femoral vessels, and divides into a superficial and a deep 

 branch. The superficial branch passes downwards along the inner border 

 of the sartorius muscle to the lower third of the thigh ; it then pierces the 

 fascia lata, joins the internal saphenous vein, and accompanies that vessel 

 to the knee joint, where it terminates by communicating with the long 

 saphenous nerve. The deep branch descends on the outer side of the 

 sheath of the femoral vessels, and crosses the sheath at its lower part to a 

 point opposite the termination of the femoral artery, where it divides into 

 several filaments which constitute a plexus by their communication with 

 other nerves. One of these filaments communicates with the descending 

 branch of the obturator nerve, another with the long saphenous nerve, and 

 two or three are distributed to the integument upon the internal and pos- 

 terior aspect of the thigh. 



The Long saphenous nerve (n. cutaneus internus longus) inclines in- 

 xvards to the sheath of the femoral vessels, and entering the sheath accom- 

 panies the femoral artery to the aponeurotic canal formed by the adductor 

 longus and vastus internus muscles. It then quits the artery, and, pass- 

 ing between the tendons of the sartorius and gracilis, descends along the 

 inner side of the leg with the internal saphenous vein, crosses in front of 

 the inner ankle, and is distributed to the integument on the inner side of 

 the foot as far as the great toe. 



The internal saphenous nerve receives from the obturator nerve two 

 branches of communication, one near its upper part, which passes through 

 the angle of division of the femoral artery, and the other at the internal 

 condyle. The branches which it gives off in its course are, a femoral 

 cutaneous branch, at about the middle of the thigh, distributed to the in- 

 tegument of the inner and posterior aspect of the^limb, and communicat- 

 ing with other cutaneous filaments from the saphenous below the knee ; a 

 tibial cutaneous branch proceeding from the nerve a little above the imeuial 

 condyle, passing between the sartorius and gracilis and descending the 

 inner aspect of the leg to the ankle ; an articular branch of small size, pro 

 ceeding from the nerve while in the aponeurotic canal of the femoral 

 artery, and passing directly to the knee joint to supply the synovial mem- 

 brane ; an anterior crtaneous branch proceeding from the saphenous at the 

 36* 



