SUPERIOR FEMORAL REGION. 235 



rator, and a descending, muscular ; and the vessel itself 

 passes into the gluteal region between the quadratus 

 feraoris and adductor magnus, inosculating with the is- 

 chiatic, external circumflex, and superior perforating 

 vessels. The perforating arteries : The first is generally 

 given off from the profunda, just above the tendon of 

 the adductor brevis, between it and the pectineus, and 

 pierces the adductor magnus ; the second pierces the ad- 

 ductor brevis and magnus ; and the third is given off 

 below the adductor brevis, and pierces the adductor 

 magnus. The inosculations of these vessels will be con- 

 sidered in the description of the thigh and buttock. 



Compression of the femoral artery in the upper third 

 is easily effected, either just as it passes over the pubes, 

 where the pressure should be made obliquely backwards, 

 on account of the surface of .the bone being inclined 

 slightly forwards, or just below Poupart's ligament, at a 

 point where it is very superficial, being separated from 

 the acetabulum and neck of femur by the psoas in ex- 

 tension of the thigh. 



Ligature of the Femoral Artery in Scarpa's Space. 

 Except in the case of a wound, the common femoral is 

 rarely tied, owing to the number of small superficial and 

 muscular branches, affording but little chance of a good 

 coagulum being made. For popliteal aneurism, &c., 

 the superficial femoral is tied just at the point before it 

 passes beneath the sartorius. (By the superficial femoral 

 is meant that portion of the vessel between the giving off 

 of the profunda and the point where it becomes pop- 

 liteal.) 



The knee being slightly bent, an incision of about two 

 or three inches in length is to be made over the course 

 of the artery, dividing the skin, superficial fascia, and 



