770 SURGICAL ANATOMY OF FEMORAL HERNIA. 



sheath, a small oval-shaped interval existing between the femoral vein and the 

 inner wall of the sheath, which is occupied merely by a little loose areolar tissue, 

 and occasionally a small lymphatic gland ; this is the crural canal, along which a 

 portion of gut descends in femoral hernia. 



Gimbernafs Ligament (fig. 386) is that part of the aponeurosis of the External 

 oblique muscle, which is reflected downwards and outwards to be inserted into 

 the pectineal line of the os pubis. It is about an inch in length, larger in the 

 male than in the female, almost horizontal in direction in the erect posture, and 

 of a triangular form, the base directed outwards. Its base or outer margin is 

 concave, thin and sharp, lies in contact with the crural sheath, and is blended with 

 the pubic portion of the fascia lata. Its apex corresponds to the spine of the pubes. 

 Its posterior margin is attached to the pectineal line. Its anterior margin is con- 

 tinuous with Poupart's ligament. 



Fig. 385. Femoral Hernia ; Iliac Portion of Fascia Lata having been removed, and 

 Sheath of Femoral Vessels and Femoral Canal exposed. 



Crural Sheath. If Poupart's ligament is divided, the femoral or crural sheath 

 may be demonstrated as a continuation downwards of the fasciae that line the 

 abdomen, the transversalis fascia passing down in front of the femoral vessels, and 

 the iliac fascia descending behind them ; these fascias are directly continuous on 

 the iliac side of the femoral artery, but a small space exists between the femoral 

 vein and the point where they are continuous on the pubic side of this vessel, 

 which constitutes the femoral or crural canal. The femoral sheath is closely 



