580 



THE BLOOD-VASCULAR SYSTEM. 



of the thigh ; anastomosing above with the higher perforating arteries, and below 

 with the terminal branches of the profunda and the muscular branches of the 

 popliteal. 



The fourth perforating artery is represented by the termination of the profunda 

 femoris artery. 



Long 

 saphenous 



[-Femoral 



artery. 



FIG. 319. Side view of the popliteal artery. (From a preparation in the Museum of the Royal College of 

 Surgeons of England.) 



Muscular branches are given off from the superficial femoral throughout its 

 entire course. They vary from two to seven in number, and supply chiefly the 

 Sartorius and Vastus internus. 



The anastomotica magna (Fig. 319) arises from the femoral artery just before 

 it passes through the tendinous opening in the Adductor magnus muscle, and 

 immediately divides into a superficial arid deep branch. 



The superficial branch pierces the aponeurotic covering of Hunter's canal, and 



