1192 



THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF HERNIA. 



receives at the saphenous opening the superficial epigastric, the superficial 

 circumflex iliac, and the superficial external pudic veins. 



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

 the femoral artery, and, after passing through the saphenous opening, courses 

 inward across the spermatic cord, to be distributed to the integument on the 

 lower part of the abdomen, the penis and scrotum in the male and the labium in 

 the female, anastomosing with branches of the internal pudic. 



The superficial epigastric artery arises from the femoral about half an inch 

 below Poupart's ligament, and, passing through the saphenous opening in the 

 fascia lata, ascends on to the abdomen, in the superficial fascia covering the 



FIG. 762. Femoral hernia. Superficial dissection. 



External oblique muscle, nearly as high as the umbilicus. It distributes branches 

 to the superficial inguinal lymphatic glands, the superficial fascia, and the integu- 

 ment, anastomosing with branches of the deep epigastric and internal mammary 

 arteries. 



The superficial circumflex iliac artery, 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 superficial inguinal lymphatic glands, the superficial fascia, and 

 the integument of the groin, anastomosing Avith the deep circumflex iliac, and with 

 the gluteal and external circumflex arteries. 



The Superficial Veins. The veins accompanying these superficial arteries are 

 usually much larger than the arteries : they terminate in the internal or long 

 saphenous vein at the saphenous opening. 



