THE VEINS 203 



The femoral artery (Fig. 139) is a continuation of the external 

 iliac, passing through the femoral trigone and the adductor canal to 

 the popliteal space, 1 where it becomes the popliteal artery. Its 

 branches supply the skin and fascia of the lower abdomen and 

 external genital organs, and all structures of the front and sides 

 of the thigh. The largest branch is called the deep femoral, 

 which lies close to the medial side of the femur and gives three 

 perforating branches to pass through the adductor magnus muscle 

 and supply the back of the thigh. 



Note. The femoral vein is on the medial side of the femoral 

 artery until it reaches the popliteal space. 



The popliteal artery is a continuation of the femoral, beginning 

 at the end of the adductor canal (the opening in the adductor 

 magnus) and running through the popliteal space. Its branches 

 supply the boundaries and floor of the space and the knee-joint; 

 it divides into anterior and posterior tibial arteries (Fig. 140). 



The anterior tibial (Fig. 139) comes forward between the 

 tibia and fibula, supplying the front of the leg; it then becomes 

 the dorsalis pedis (upon the dorsum of the foot) , ending between 

 the first and second toes. The anterior tibial passes in front of 

 the ankle-joint, with the long tendons of the toe muscles. 



The posterior tibial (Fig. 140) supplies the back of the leg and 

 sole of the foot. It lies between the calf muscles and the deep 

 muscles, and runs behind the medial malleolus, dividing then into 

 medial and lateral plantar arteries for the medial and lateral por- 

 tions of the sole, or plantar region (Fig. 141) 



The Veins 



All veins 2 run toward the heart. 



Beginning as very small vessels formed by the union of capil- 

 laries, they unite and reunite until they make two sets of larger 

 vessels called the deep and superficial veins. 



The deep veins accompany arteries, being enclosed in the same 

 sheath with them, and receiving veins corresponding to the 

 branches of these arteries. Arteries of medium size usually have 



1 See p. 371, Popliteal Space. 



8 The names of all of the veins are given in tabular form on page 379. Only the 

 principal ones are here described. 



