ANTERIOR FEMORAL REGIOX. S29 



thinner of the two, separates the Vastus internus from the Adductor muscles. 

 Besides these, there are numerous smaller septa, separating the individual muscles, 

 and inclosing each in a distinct sheath. At the upper and inner part of the thigh, 

 a little below Poupart's ligament, a large oval-shaped aperture is observed : it 

 transmits the internal saphenous vein, and other smaller vessels, and is termed 

 the saphenous opening. In order more correctly to consider the mode of forma- 

 tion of this aperture, the fascia lata is described as consisting, in this part of the 

 thigh, of two portions, an iliac portion, and a pubic portion. 



The iliac portion is all that par-t of the fascia lata placed on the outer side of 

 the saphenous opening. It is attached, externally, to the crest of the ilium, and 

 its anterior superior spine, to the whole length of Poupart's ligament, as far inter- 

 nally as the spine of the pubes, and to the pectineal line in conjunction with Gim- 

 bernat's ligament. From the spine of the pubes, it is reflected downwards and 

 outwards, forming an arched margin, the superior cornu or outer boundary of the 

 saphenous opening ; this margin overlies, and is adherent to, the anterior layer of 

 the sheath of the femoral vessels ; to its edge is attached the cribriform fascia, and, 

 below, it is continuous with the pubic portion of the fascia lata. 



The pubic portion is situated at the inner side of the saphenous opening ; at the 

 lower margin of this aperture it is continuous with the iliac portion ; traced up- 

 wards, it is seen to cover the surface of the Pectin eus muscle, and passing behind 

 the sheath of the femoral vessels, to which it is closely united, is continuous with 

 the sheath of the Psoas and Iliacus muscles, and is finally lost in the fibrous cap- 

 sule of the hip-joint. This fascia is attached above to the pectineal line in front 

 of the insertion of the aponeurosis of the External oblique, and internally to the 

 margin of the pubic arch. From this description it may be observed, that the 

 iliac portion of the fascia lata passes in front of the femoral vessels, the pubic por- 

 tion behind them, an apparent aperture consequently existing between the two, 

 through which the internal saphenous joins the femoral vein. 



The fascia should now be removed from the surface of the muscles. This may be effected by 

 pinching it up between the forceps, dividing it, and separating it from each muscle in the course 

 of its fibres. 



The Tensor Vaginae Femoris is a short flat muscle, situated at the upper and 

 outer side of the thigh. It arises from the anterior part of the outer lip of the 

 crest of the ilium, and from the outer surface of the anterior superior spinous 

 process, between the Gluteus medius and Sartorius. The muscle passes obliquely 

 downwards, and a little backwards, to be inserted into the fascia lata, about one- 

 fourth down the outer side of the thigh. 



Relations. By its superficial surface, with the fascia lata and the integument. 

 By its deep surface, with the Gluteus medius, Rectus femoris, Yastus externus, 

 and the ascending branches of the external circumflex artery. By its anterior 

 border, with the Sartorius, from which it is separated below by a triangular space, 

 in which is seen the Rectus femoris. By its posterior border, with the Gluteus 

 medius. 



The Sartorius, the longest muscle in the body, is a flat, narrow, riband-like 

 muscle, which arises by tendinous fibres from the anterior superior spinous process 

 of the ilium and upper half of the notch below it ; it passes obliquely across the 

 upper and anterior part of the thigh, from the outer to the inner side of the 

 limb, then descends vertically, as far as the inner side of the knee, passing .behind 

 the inner condyle of the femur, and terminates in a tendon, which curving ob- 

 liquely forwards, expands into a broad aponeurosis, which is inserted into the 

 upper part of the inner surface of the shaft of the tibia, nearly as far forwards as 

 the crest. This expansion covers the insertion of the tendons of the Gracilis and 

 Semi-tendinosus, with which it is partially united, a synovial bursa being inter- 

 posed between them. An offset is derived from this aponeurosis, which blends 

 with the fibrous capsule of the knee-joint, and another, given off from its lower 

 border blends with the Iksda on the inner side of the leg. The relations of this 



