FASCIA AND MUSCLES OF THE THIGH AND BUTTOCK. 403 



The deep fascia or fascia lata forms a tubular investment for the muscles and 

 vessels of the thigh and buttock. It is firmly attached above to the iliac crest, the 

 sacro-tuberous ligament, the ischium, the pubic arch, the pubic symphysis and crest, 

 and the inguinal ligament. In the distal part of the thigh it forms the inter- 

 muscular septa ; and in relation to the knee, it is continuous with the deep fascia 

 of the leg, gains attachment to the patella, the condyles of the tibia and the head 

 of the fibula, and forms the collateral ligaments of the patella. 



On the front of the thigh the deep fascia is thick and strong. It is pierced by 

 numerous openings for vessels and nerves, the most important of which is the fossa 

 ovalis (O.T. saphenous opening) for the passage of the great saphenous vein. A femoral 



Linea alba ? 



Lig. fundiforme pen 



Subcutaneous 

 inguinal ring 



Superior crus 

 Inferior crus 



Spermatic funiculus 



Internal spermati c 

 fascia 



Dorsal vein of penis 



Dorsal artery 

 Dorsal nervi 



OBLIQUUS ABDOMINIS 



EXTERNUS 



Anterior superior 

 iliac spine 



External oblique 

 aponeurosis 



Superficial circum- 

 flex iliac artery 



Intercrural fibres 



( Attachment of mem- 

 < branous layer of 



( superficial fascia 

 Poupart's inguinal 

 ligament 



Superficial epigastric 

 artery 



Superficial external 

 pudendal artery 



Superficial sub- 

 inguinal lymph gland 



Great saphenous 

 vein 



FIG. 358. SUPERFICIAL ANATOMY OF THE LEFT GROIN. 



hernia passes through this opening to reach the groin and anterior abdominal wall. 

 It is an oval opening, of variable size, situated just distal to the medial half of the 

 inguinal ligament, and immediately anterior to the femoral vessels. It is covered 

 by the superficial fascia, and by a special layer of fascia, the fascia cribrosa, a thin 

 perforated lamina attached to the margins of the opening. The lateral edge of the 

 opening (margo falciformis) is formed by the margin of the iliac portion of the 

 fascia lata, which is attached above to the iliac crest and the inguinal ligament ; 

 the medial edge is formed by the fascia pectinea which is continued proximally, 

 behind the femoral sheath, over the adductor longus and pectineus muscles to the 

 ilio-pectineal line and the capsule of the hip-joint. These two layers of the fascia 

 lata are continuous at the distal concave margin of the fossa ovalis, forming its 

 inferior cornu. As they pass proximally towards the pelvis they occupy different 



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