FASCIA OF THE THIGH. 



405 



Actions. The Psoas and Iliacus muscles, acting from above, flex the thigh 

 upon the pelvis, and, at the same time, rotate the femur outwards, from the 

 obliquity of their insertion into the inner and back part of that bone. Acting 

 from below, the femur being fixed, the muscles on both sides bend the lumbar 

 portion of the spine and pelvis forwards. They also serve to maintain the erect 

 position, by supporting the spine and pelvis upon the femur, and assist in rais- 

 ing the trunk when the body is in the recumbent posture. 



The Psoas Parvus is a tensor of the iliac fascia. 



ANTERIOR FEMORAL REGIOX. 



Tensor Vaginae Femoris. 



Sartorius. 



Eectus. 



Subcrureus. 



Vastus Externus. 

 Yastus Internus. 

 Crureus. 



Dissection. To expose the muscles and fasciae in this region, make an incision along Pou- 

 part's ligament, from the spine of the ilium to the pubes, a vertical incision from the centre of 

 this, along the middle line of the thigh to below the knee-joint, and a transverse incision from 

 the inner to the outer side of the leg, at the lower end 

 of the vertical incision. The flaps of integument 

 having been removed, the superficial and deep fasciae 

 should be examined. The more advanced student 

 should commence the study of this region by an exa- 

 mination of the anatomy of femoral hernia, and Scar- 

 pa's triangle, the incisions for the dissection of which 

 are marked out in the accompanying figure. 



Fig. 253. Dissection of Lower Ex- 

 tremity. Front View. 



\ 



/ . Disatction 



"f 

 FEMORAL HERNIA, 



&. 

 SCARPAS TRIANGLE 



Z. FRONT o, 



0/-THI 



Fascise of the Thigh. The superficial fascia 

 forms a continuous layer over the whole 

 of the lower extremity, consisting of areolar 

 tissue, containing in its meshes much adi- 

 pose matter, and capable of being separated 

 into two or more layers, between which are 

 found the superficial vessels and nerves. 

 It varies in thickness, in different parts of 

 the limb; in the sole of the foot it is so 

 thin as to be scarcely demonstrable, the 

 integument being closely adherent to the 

 deep fascia beneath, but in the groin it is 

 thicker, and the two layers are separated 

 from one another by the superficial inguinal 

 glands, the internal saphenous vein, and 

 several smaller vessels. Of these two lay- 

 ers, the superficial is continuous above 

 with the superficial fascia of the abdomen, 

 the deep layer becoming blended with the 

 fascia lata, a little below Poupart's ligament. 

 The deep layer of superficial fascia is inti- 

 mately adherent to the margins of the sa- 

 phenous opening in the fascia lata, and 

 pierced in this situation by numerous small 

 blood and lymphatic vessels; hence the name 

 cribriform fascia, which has been applied to 

 it. Subcutaneous bursae are found in the 

 superficial fascia over the patella, point of 

 the heel, and phalangeal articulations of 

 the toes. 



The deep fascia of the thigh is exposed on the removal of the superficial 

 fascia, and is named, from its great extent, the fascia lata ; it forms a uniform 

 investment for the whole of this region of the limb, but varies in thickness in 



S . FRONT of LEO 



Ij. . DORSUMof TOOT 



