294 



DISSECTION OF THE ABDOMEN. 



by the vessels, for a space (crural canal) exists on the inner side of 



the vein, through which the intestine descends in femoral hernia. 



The aperture leading into the crural canal is called the crural ring. 



Crural ring: The crural ring (fig. 107) is an interval at the base of the 



sheath, to the inner side of the femoral vein, and is about half an 



size and inch wide, being filled by a lymphatic gland. Bounding it 



boundaries internally are Gimbermit's ligament and the conjoined tendon ; 



and limiting it externally is the femoral vein (b). In front is 



Poupart's ligament, with the deep crural arch ; and behind is the 



pubis, covered by the pectineus muscle and the pubic portion of 



the fascia lata. Crossing the front of the space, but at some little 



distance from it, is the spermatic cord in the male, and the round 



-- Gimbernat's ligament. 



FIG. 107. INNER SURFACE OF THE Os INNOMINATUM, SHOWING A VIEW OF 

 THE PARTS CONCERNED IN FEMORAL HERNIA (R. QUAIN). 



Muscles, &c. : 



A. Iliacus covered by the iliac 

 fascia. 



B. Rectus. 



c. Transversalis, covered by the 

 transversalis fascia. 



D. Crural ring. 



E. Gimbernat's ligament, 



Vessels : 



a. External iliac artery. 



b. Iliac vein. 



c. Deep epigastric artery. 



d. Deep circumflex iliac. 



c. Obturator artery, with its nerve. 



/. Anastomosis between the pubic 

 branches of the obturator and epi- 

 gastric arteries. 



Constricting 

 boundaries, 



how re- 

 laxed. 



Usual ves- 

 sels around 

 ring. 



Unusual 

 state of 

 vessels, 



ligament in the female. The opening is larger in the female than 

 in the male. 



Two of the boundaries, anterior and inner, are firm and sharp- 

 edged, though their condition varies with the position of the limb ; 

 for if the thigh is raised and approximated to its fellow, those 

 bounding parts will be relaxed. 



Position of vessels around the ring (fig. 107). On the outer side is 

 the femoral vein (6) ; and above this are the deep epigastric vessels (c). 

 In front is a small branch (pubic) from the epigastric artery to the 

 back of the pubis ; and the vessels of the spermatic cord may be 

 said to be placed along the anterior aspect of the ring. 



But in some bodies the obturator artery takes origin from the 

 deep epigastric by an enlargement of its communication (/) with the 



