ANTERIOR CRURAL XERVE. 161 



Its articular branch (fig. 62, 9 ) is prolonged on or In the vastus, 

 and on the tendon of the adductor magnus, to the inner side of the 

 knee-joint, where it is distributed over the synovial membrane of 

 the articulation. This small nerve accompanies the deep branch of 

 the anastomotic artery. 



The internal or long saphenous nerve (fig. 59, p. 153) is the largest and long 

 branch of the anterior crural. In the thigh the nerve takes the nerve, 

 course of the deep blood-vessels, and is continued along the artery, 

 beneath the aponeurosis covering the same, as far as the opening in 

 the adductor magnus muscle. At that spot the nerve passes from 

 beneath the aponeurosis, and is prolonged under the sartorius 

 muscle to the upper part of the leg, where it becomes cutaneous. 

 It supplies two offsets while it is beneath the fascia in the thigh. 



A cowmwiieating branch arises about the middle of the thigh, which has a 

 and crosses inwards beneath the sartorius to join in the plexus of 

 the internal cutaneous and obturator nerves, or with the internal 

 cutaneous nearer the knee : this branch is often absent. 



The pateUar branch springs from the nerve near the knee-joint, andapa- 

 and perforating the sartorius muscle and the fascia lata, ends in the tellar oflset< 

 integument over the knee (p. 141). 



A branch of the superior gluteal nerve (p. 117) to the deep Nerve of 

 surface of the tensor fasciae femoris may be followed at this stage jJJJJJ 

 nearly to the lower end of the muscle. femoris. 



Directions. After the examination of the muscles of the front Take next 

 of the thigh, with their vessels and nerves, the student is to learn tors addUC 

 the adductor muscles, and the vessels and nerves which belong to 

 them. 



SECTION II. 



THE DsNER SIDE OF THE THIGH. 



The muscles in this position are the three adductors, longus, i ne adduc- 

 brevis, and magnus, with the gracilis and pectineus. These have tor muscles 

 the following position with respect to one another : Internal to all, and their 

 and the longest, is the gracilis. Superficial to the others are the P sltion - 

 pectineus and the adductor longus ; and beneath the last two are 

 the short adductor and the adductor magnus. 



In connection with these muscles, and supplying them, are the vessels and 

 profunda femoris artery with the accompanying vein, and the nerve - 

 obturator nerve. 



Dissection. For the preparation of the muscles, the investing Dissection 

 fascia and tissue are to be taken away ; and the two superficial O f adductor 

 adductors are to be separated from one another. Let the student musc i es - 

 be careful of the branches of the obturator nerve in connection with Nerves - 

 the muscles, viz., those entering the fleshy fibres, and one issuing 

 beneath the adductor longus, to join the plexus at the inner side of 

 the thigh. Lastly, should any fat and veins be left with the Remove 

 profunda artery and its branches, they must be removed. veins - 



The GRACILIS reaches from the pelvis to the tibia (fig. 62, c, p. 165), Gracilis 

 and is fleshv and riband-like above, but tendinous below. The takes origin 



from the 

 D.A M pelvis ; 



