THE FEMORAL ARTERY. 635 



anastomosis by means of the comes nervi ischiadici, which is shown in Porta's plate, is distinctly 

 seen : the external circumflex and the termination of the profunda artery, seem to have been 

 the chief channels of anastomosis ; but the injection has not been a very successful one. 



Branches. The branches of the femoral artery are the 



Superficial Epigastric. ( External Circumflex. 



Superficial Circumflex Iliac. Profunda < Internal Circumflex. 



Superficial External Pudic. (Three Perforating. 



Deep External Pudic. Muscular. 



Anastomotica Magna. 



The superficial epigastric arises from the femoral about half an inch below Pou- 

 part's ligament, and. passing through the saphenous opening in the fascia lata, 

 asrt ii-ls on the abdomen, in the superficial fascia covering the External oblique 

 muscle, nearly as high as the umbilicus. It distributes branches to the superficial 

 inguinal glands, the superficial fascia, and the integument, anastomosing with 

 branches of the deep epigastric. 



The superficial circumflex iliac, the smallest of the cutaneous branches, arises 

 close to the preceding, and, piercing the fascia lata. runs outward, parallel with 

 Poupart's ligament, as far as the crest of the ilium, dividing into branches which 

 supply the integument of the groin, the superficial fascia, and the superficial ingui- 

 nal lymphatic glands, anastomosing with the circumflex iliac and with the gluteal 

 and external circumflex arteries. 



The superficial external pudic (superior) arises from the inner side of the femoral 

 artery, close to the preceding vessels, and. after passing through the saphenous 

 opening, courses inward, across the spermatic cord or round ligament, to be dis- 

 tributed to the integument on the lower part of the abdomen, the penis and scro- 

 tum in the male, and the labium in the female, anastomosing with branches of the 

 internal pudic. 



The deep external pudic (inferior), more deeply seated than the preceding, 

 passes inward on the Pectineus muscle, covered by the fascia lata. which it pierces 

 ar the inner border of the thigh, its branches being distributed, in the male, to the 

 integument of the scrotum and perinseum ; and in the female, to the labium, anas- 

 tomosing with branches of the superficial perineal artery. 



The Profunda Femoris (deep femoral artery) nearly equals the size of the 

 superficial femoral. It arises from the outer and back part of the femoral artery, 

 from one to two inches below Poupart's ligament. It at first lies on the outer side 

 of the superficial femoral, and then passes behind it and the femoral vein to the 

 inner side of the femur, and, passing downward beneath the Adductor longus, 

 terminates at the lower third of the thigh in a small branch which pierces the 

 Adductor magnus (and from this circumstance is sometimes called the fourth 

 perforating artery), and is distributed to the flexor muscles on the back of the 

 thigh, anastomosing with branches of the popliteal and inferior perforating 

 arteries. 



Relations. Behind, it lies first upon the Iliacus. and then on the Pectineus, 

 Adductor brevis. and Adductor magnus muscles. In front, it is separated from 

 the femoral artery, above by the femoral and profunda veins, and below by the 

 Adductor longus. On its outer side the origin of the Vastus internus separates it 

 from the femur. 



