FASCIA AND MUSCLES OF ABDOMINAL WALL. 



475 



Fascia Trans versalis. The fascial lining of the abdominal cavity (fascia 

 transversalis) consists of a continuous layer of membrane which receives different 

 names in different parts of its extent. .It covers the deep surface of the transversus 

 muscle, and is continuous medially with the fascise of the quadratus lumborum 

 and the psoas muscles. It is continuous above with the diaphragmatic fascia, 

 and below the iliac crest and the inguinal ligament with the fascia iliaca. Along 

 with the last-named fascia it forms the femoral sheath, enclosing the femoral vessels 

 and the femoral canal in their passage to the thigh behind the medial part 

 of the inguinal ligament (p. 405). It is pierced by the spermatic funiculus or 



OBLIQUUS EXTBRNUS 



ABDOMINIS 



Anterior superior 

 iliac spine 



Aponeurosis of 

 obliquus externus 



Superficial circum- 

 flex iliac artery 



Intercrural fibres 



( Attachment^ mem- 

 j branous layer of 

 ( superficial fascia 



Poupart's inguinal 



ligament 

 uperficial epigastric 



artery 



External pudendal 

 artery 



Superficial sub-inguinal 

 lymph gland 



Great saphenous vein 



FIG. 421. SUPERFICIAL ANATOMY OF THE GROIN. 



round ligament of the uterus at the abdominal inguinal ring, and its prolongation 

 into the inguinal canal around the funiculus forms the internal spermatic or in- 

 fundibuliform fascia. It is lined internally by the peritoneum, from which it, is 

 separated by a layer of extraperitoneal tissue. 



The subserous coat or extraperitoneal tissue is usually loaded with fat ; it envelops 



the kidneys, ureters, suprarenal glands, abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava 



and their branches, and forms sheaths for the vessels and ducts (ureter, ductus 



leferens, etc.). It is continued upwards into the posterior mediastinum of the 



thorax through the aortic opening in the diaphragm, and below is in continuity 



ith the extraperitoneal tissue in the pelvis. It not only completely invests 



kidneys and suprarenal glands, but it also becomes interpolated between the 



layers of peritoneum upholding and enveloping the intestines. This tissue is 



absent in relation to the diaphragm, on the under surface of which there is no fat. 



