506 



THE MUSCLES AND FASCIAE. 



should be examined. The more advanced student should commence the study of this region by 

 an examination of the anatomy of femoral hernia and Scar pa's triangle, the incisions for the 

 dissection of which are marked out in the figure below, 



The superficial fascia forms a continuous layer over the whole of the thigh, 

 consisting of areolar tissue, containing in its meshes much fat, and capable of 

 being separated into two or more layers, between which are found the superficial 

 vessels and nerves. It varies in thickness in different parts of the limb : in the 

 groin it is thick, and the two layers are separated from one another by the super- 

 ficial inguinal lymphatic glands, the internal saphenous vein, and several smaller 

 vessels. One of these two layers, the superficial, is continuous above with the 

 superficial fascia of the abdomen. The deep layer of the superficial fascia is a 

 very thin, fibrous layer, best marked on the inner side of the long 'saphenous vein 

 and below Poupart's ligament. It is placed beneath the subcutaneous vessels and 

 nerves and upon the surface of the fascia lata. It is intimately adherent to the 

 fascia lata a little below Poupart's ligament. It covers the saphenous opening in 

 the fascia lata, being closely united to its circumference, and is connected to the 

 sheath of the femoral vessels, corresponding to its under surface. The portion of 

 fascia covering this aperture is perforated by the internal saphenous vein and by 

 numerous blood- and lymphatic vessels ; hence it has been termed the cribriform 



fascia, the openings for these vessels having 

 been likened to the holes in a sieve. The 

 cribriform fascia adheres closely both to the 

 superficial fascia and to the fascia lata, so that 

 it is described by some anatomists as part of the 

 fascia lata, but is usually considered (as in this 

 work) as belonging to the superficial fascia. It 

 is not until the cribriform fascia has been cleared 

 away that the saphenous opening is seen, so that 

 this opening does not in ordinary cases exist 

 naturally, but is the result of dissection. Mr. 

 Callender, however, speaks of cases in which, 

 probably as the result of pressure from enlarged 

 inguinal lymphatic glands, the fascia has become 

 atrophied, and a sapbenous opening exists inde- 

 pendent of dissection. A femoral hernia in pass- 

 ing through the saphenous opening receives the 

 cribriform fascia as one of its coverings. A large 

 subcutaneous bursa is found in the superficial 

 fascia over the patella. 



The deep fascia of the thigh is exposed on the 

 removal of the superficial fascia, and is named, 

 from its great extent, the fascia lata ; it forms a 

 uniform investment for the whole of this region 

 of the limb, but varies in thickness in different 

 parts ; thus, it is thicker in the upper and outer 

 part of the thigh, where it receives a fibrous 

 expansion from the Gluteus maximus muscle, and 

 the Tensor vaginas femoris is inserted between its 

 layers : it is very thin behind, and at the upper 

 and inner part where it covers the Adductor 

 muscles, and again becomes stronger around the 

 knee, receiving fibrous expansions from the 



FIG. 325. Dissection of lower extremity, tendon of the Biceps externally, and from the 



Sartorius internally, and Quadriceps extensor 

 cruris in front. The fascia lata is attached, above and behind, to the back of the 

 sacrum and coccyx ; externally, to the crest of the ilium ; in front, to Poupart's 

 ligament and to the body of the os pubis ; and internally, to the descending ramus 



1. Dissection of 

 femoral hernia, 



I and Scarpa's 

 triangle. 



2. Front of thigh. 



3. Front of leg. 



4- Dorsum of foot. 



Front view. 



