684 



THK VASCULAR SYSTKMti 



emerges from the abdomen. It forms the outer boundary of Hessel bach's triangle. It is in 

 close relationship with the spermatic cord, which lies in front of it in the inguinal canal, separated 

 only bv the transversalis fascia. The vas deferens curves round its outer side. 



The deep circumflex iliac artery (a. circumflexa ilium profuuda) (Fig. 

 a r ises from the outer side of the external iliac nearly opposite the epigastric artery . 

 It ascends obliquely outward behind Poupart's ligament, contained in a fibrous 

 sheath formed by the junction of the transversalis and iliac fasciae, to the anterior 

 .superior spinous process of the ilium. It then runs alpng the inner surface of the 

 crest of the ilium to about its middle, where it pierces the Transversalis. and 

 runs backward between that muscle and the Internal oblique, to anastomose with 

 the liiolumhar and gluteal arteries. Opposite the anterior superior spine of the^ 

 ilium it gives off a large branch which ascends between the Internal oblique and 

 Transversalis muscles^ supplying them, and anastomosing with the lumbar ancT 

 epigastric arteries. It also gives off cutaneous branches. 



External 



Femoral cutaneous nerve. 



Poupart's ligament, branch Femoral nerve, 

 of genito- 

 femoral. 



Iliac portion of Sheath of 

 fascia lata. \ vessels. 



Femoral vein. 

 Femoral ring-^ 



Femoral artery. 

 FIG. 479. Structures which pass beneath the crural arch. 



ARTERIES OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY. 



The artery which supplies the greater part of the lower extremity is the direct 

 continuation of the external iliac. It continues as a single trunk from Poupart's 

 ligament to the lower border of the Popliteus muscle, and here divides into two 

 branches, the anterior and posterior tibial. For convenience of description, the 

 upper part of the main trunk is named femoral^ the lower part, popliteal. 



