556 



DISSECTION OF THE THIGH. 



Fig. 192. 



gether in a similar way. When this arrangement exists three large veins 

 will be present on the front of the thigh, near the saphenous opening. On 

 the side of the knee the vein receives a deep branch from the joint. 



Some unnamed cutaneous arteries are distributed to the integuments 

 along with the nerves ; and the superficial branch of the anastomotic artery 

 (p. 568) accompanies the saphenous nerve and its branches near the knee. 

 NERVES. The cutaneous nerves of the thigh are derived from branches 

 of the lumbar plexus, and are distributed in greater number on the inner 

 than the outer side. 



llio-inguinal. This nerve (p. 497) is small in size, and reaches the 

 surface by passing through the external ab- 

 dominal ring (fig. 192, 7 ) ; it supplies the 

 scrotum, and ends in the contiguous part of 

 the thigh, internal to the saphenous vein. 



The Genito-crural. The crural branch of 

 this nerve (p. 497) pierces the fascia lata 

 near Poupart's ligament (fig. 192, 6 ), rather 

 external to the line of the femoral artery. 

 After or before the nerve has become super- 

 ficial it communicates with the middle cuta- 

 neous nerve ; and it extends on the anterior 

 aspect of the thigh as far as midway between 

 the knee and the pelvis. 



Occasionally this branch is of large size, 

 and takes the place of the external cutaneous 

 nerve on the outer side of the limb. 



The external cutaneous nerve (p. 497) 

 ramifies on the outer aspect of the limb (fig. 

 192, a ). At first it is contained in a promi- 

 nent ridge of the fascia lata on the outer mar- 

 gin of the thigh, where it divides into an an- 

 terior and a posterior branch. 



The posterior branch subdivides into two 

 or three others, which arch backwards to 

 supply the integuments of the outer part of 

 the thigh as low as the middle. 



The anterior branch appears on the sur- 

 face of the fascia lata about four inches from 

 Poupart's ligament, and is continued to the 

 knee ; it distributes branches laterally, but 

 those towards the posterior surface are the 

 most numerous, and the largest in size. 



Middle cutaneous (fig. 192, 2 ). The nerve 

 of the centre of the thigh is a cutaneous offset 

 of the anterior crural (p. 497), and divides 

 into two branches. It is transmitted through 

 the fascia lata about three inches from Pou- 

 part's ligament, and its branches are con- 

 tinued to the knee. In the fat this nerve is 

 united with the genito-crural and internal 

 cutaneous nerves. 



Internal cutaneous. Derived from the an- 

 terior crural trunk, this nerve is furnished to all the inner side of the 



CUTANEOUS NERVES ON THE FRONT 



OF THE THIGH. 

 1 External cutaneous. 



2. Middle cutaneous. 



3. Internal cutaneous. 



4. Internal saphenous. 



;>. Patellar branch of saphenous. 



6. Genito-crural. 



7. llio-inguinal. 



5. Ilio-hypogastric on the belly. 



