1054 



THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF HERNIA. 



ward in the same manner as the integument. The cutaneous vessels and nerves and superficial 

 inguinal glands are then exposed, lying upon the deep layer of the superficial fascia. These are 

 the internal saphenous vein and the superficial epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac, and super- 

 ficial external pudic vessels, as well as numerous lymphatics, ascending with the saphenous vein 

 to the inguinal glands. 



The internal or long saphenous vein ascends along the inner side of the thigh, 

 and, passing through the saphenous opening in the fascia lata, terminates in the 

 femoral vein about an inch and a half below Poupart's ligament. This vein 

 receives at the saphenous opening the superficial epigastric, the superficial 

 circumflex iliac, and the superficial external pudic veins. 



The superficial external pudic artery (superior) arises from the inner side of 

 the femoral artery, and, after passing through the saphenous opening, courses 

 inward across the spermatic cord, to be distributed to the integument on the 

 lower part of the abdomen, the penis and scrotum in the male and the labiuin in 

 the female, anastomosing with branches of the internal pudic. 



The superficial epigastric artery arises from the femoral about half an inch 

 below Poupart's ligament, and, passing through the saphenous opening in the 

 fascia lata, ascends on to the abdomen, in the superficial fascia covering the 



FIG. 585. Femoral hernia. Superficial dissection. 



External oblique muscle, nearly as high as the umbilicus. It distributes branches 

 to the superficial inguinal lymphatic glands, the superficial fascia, and the integu- 

 ment, anastomosing with branches of the deep epigastric and internal mammary 

 arteries. 



The superficial circumflex iliac artery, the smallest of the cutaneous branches, 

 arises close to the preceding, and, piercing the fascia lata, runs outward, parallel 



