DISSECTION OF THE POSTERIOR LIMB. 57 



formed on the inner side of the leg by the junction of an anterior and a 

 posterior root, these being the upward continuations of the inner and 

 outer metatarsal veins. In the thigh it inclines upwards and forwards 

 on the surface of the gracilis, until it disappears between that muscle 

 and the sartorius, to empty itself into the femoral vein. 



The Saphena Artery (Plate 12). This artery lies in front of the 

 vein. It is a long and slender vessel given off by the femoral artery 

 about the middle of the femur. It comes out between the sartorius and 

 gracilis, or it may pierce the edge of one of these muscles. It then 

 descends in front of the saphena vein, and finally divides into two 

 branches, which accompany the roots of that vessel. 



The Internal Saphenous Nerve (Plate 12) is a branch of the anterior 

 crui-al, from which it is given off a little above the brim of the pelvis. 

 At the crural arch (Poupart's ligament) it descends in front of the 

 femoral artery, to which and the sartorius muscle it supplies branches. 

 It then divides into two cutaneous branches, which emerge from between 

 the sartorius and the gracilis, in company with the saphenous artery 

 and vein. The anterior half of the nerve gives oflF branches for the 

 supply of the thigh in front of the vein, and is continued downwards 

 over the forepart of the inner side of the leg, as far as the hock. 

 The posterior half sends branches backwards for the supply of the pos- 

 terior part of the thigh, and it then descends behind the anterior half. 



Cutaneous Branches from the lumbar nerves. These will be found 

 at the forepart of the thigh, the largest (from the 3rd lumbar) being 

 accompanied by the posterior division of the circumflex iliac artery. 



The Precrural Lymphatic Glands. These are supei-ficially placed 

 at the inner side of the front of the thigh, on the track of the above- 

 mentioned branch of the circumflex iliac artery. 



Fascia. At the forepart of the region now exposed, the muscles are 

 overspread by a strong membranous fascia, which is attached superiorly 

 to the tendon of the external oblique muscle of the abdomen, at the line 

 where it is reflected to form Pouparfs ligament. Round the anterior 

 border of the thigh this ftiscia is continuous with the strong fascia lata ; 

 but when traced backwards, it becomes less fibrous, and over the posterior 

 part of the region it is thin and areolar. When it has been examined, 

 the fascia is to be cleaned away from the subjacent muscles. 



The Deep Inguinal Lymphatic Glands (Plate 45) are ten or twelve 

 in number, and foi-m a chain connected by areolar tissue, and situated 

 in the upper part of the interstice between the gracilis and sartorivis 

 muscles, and over the femoral vessels. 



The Sartorius (Plate 12). This is a somewhat slender muscle which 

 at present can be dissected only in a part of its course. It is seen 

 descending beneath Poupart's ligament, from its point of origin within 

 the abdominal cavity. It there takes origin from the iliac fascia (Plate 45). 



