THE FEMORAL ARTERY 601 



The superficial epigastric (a. epigastrica superficialis} arises from the fem- 

 oral about half an inch below Poupart'^ ligament, and, passing through the 

 saphenous opening in the fascia lata, ascends 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 nodes, the superficial fascia, a nd 

 the integument, anastomosing with branches of the deep epigastric. 



The superficial circumflex iliac (a. circumflexa ilium superficial is), 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 inguinal lymph nodes, anastomosing with 

 the deep circumflex iliac and with the gluteal and external circumflex arteries. 



The superficial external pudic (a. pudenda externa superficial is^) 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 distributed to the integument on the lower part of 

 the abdomen, the penis and scrotum in the male, and the labium majus in the 

 female, anastomosing with branches of the internal pudic. 



The deep external pudic (a. pudenda externa prof undo), more deeply seated 

 than the preceding, passes inward across the Pectineus and Adductor longus 

 muscles, covered by the fascia lata, which it pierces at the inner border of the 

 thigh, its branches being distributed, in the male, to the integument of the scrotum 

 and perineum: and in the female to the labium majus, anastomosing with branches 

 of the superficial perineal artery. 



Muscular branches (rami musculares) are supplied by the femoral to the 

 Sartorius, Vastus interims, and Adductors. 



The deep femoral, or the profunda femoris (a. prof undo, femoris} (Figs. 471 

 and 472), is a large vessel arising 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. 

 The deep femoral supplies all the tissues on the back and outer side of the thigh 

 not supplied by the sciatic and gluteal arteries. 



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

 hrevis, and Adductor magnus muscles. In front, it is separated from the superficial femoral 

 artery, above by the femoral and profunda veins, and below by the Adductor longus. On its 

 outer xidr the origin of the Vastus internus separates it from the femur. 



PLAN OF THE RELATIONS OF THE PROFUNDA ARTERY. 



In fro)it. 



Superficial femoral artery. 

 Femoral and profunda veins. 

 Adductor longus. 



Outer side. 

 Vastus internus. 



Behind. 

 Iliacus. 

 Pectineus. 

 Adductor brevis. 

 Adductor ma gnus. 



