MIDDLE FEMORAL REGION. 249 



crural, ilio-inguinal and crural branch of genito-crural 

 nerves ; and posteriorly the integument is supplied by the 

 lesser sciatic. 



Beneath the subcutaneous cellular tissue is the fascia 

 lata, forming an envelope for the muscles, the arrange- 

 ment of which in the upper portion of the thigh has been 

 described with those regions. A very strong dense pro- 

 cess, into which the tensor fasciae is inserted, is attached 

 to the head of the fibula and to the outer surface of the 

 knee-joint. This fascia invests the muscles so closely 

 and firmly that its rupture allows of the bulging of the 

 fibres of the subjacent muscles to an extent which would 

 hardly be credited unless seen. Processes of this envelop- 

 ing fascia form special sheaths for the muscles. 



The fascia lata is attached deeply, on the outer side, 

 to the line leading from the trochanter major to the 

 linea aspera, and extends downwards to the tip of the 

 external condyle, and on the inner side to the line lead- 

 ing from the lesser trochanter to the linea aspera, and 

 downwards to the tip of the internal condyle. Thus it 

 will be seen, that the intermuscular septa thus formed, 

 divide the thigh into two distinct compartments, an an- 

 terior and a posterior. 



An intercommunication, however, does take place, 

 owing to the passage of the femoral vessels through the 

 adductor opening, of the perforating branches superiorly, 

 and of the upper articulating branches of the popliteal 

 vessels inferiorly. 



The anterior of these compartments, beneath the fascia 

 lata, contains externally and above the tensor fasciae, 

 which is inserted obliquely into its substance ; the sar- 

 torius, in its own sheath, which passes obliquely from 

 the anterior superior iliac spine, and wraps round the 



