THE FASCIA OF THE PERINEUM 189 



mits the spermatic cord in the male, and the round ligament 

 in the female. From its circumference a thin, funnel-shaped 

 membrane is given off, to continue on to the cord and testes, 

 as a distinct covering. It is called the infundibuliform or 

 internal spermatic fascia. The ring is bounded above and 

 externally by the arched fibers of the transversalis muscle, 

 below and internally by the deep epigastric vessels and 

 Hesselbach's ligament. In front by the internal oblique muscle. 



The inguinal or spermatic canal contains the spermatic 

 cord in the male, and the round ligament in the female. It 

 is 1J inches in length, parallel to and J inch above Poupart's 

 ligament. It is bounded in front by the aponeurosis of the 

 external oblique muscle, throughout its whole length, and by 

 the internal oblique muscle over its outer third; behind, from 

 within outward, are the triangular fascia (when present), 

 the transversalis fascia and conjoined tendon; above by the 

 arched fibers of the internal oblique muscle; below by Gimber- 

 nat's ligament near the external ring, and Poupart's ligament. 

 The deep epigastric vessels and Hesselbach's ligament lie 

 behind the middle of the canal. 



Hesselbach's triangle is the interval within the transversalis 

 fascia, bounded internally by the outer border of the rectus 

 muscle, externally by deep epigastric artery, and the base is the 

 inner third of Poupart's ligament. 



The iliac fascia covers the iliopsoas muscle, stretched from 

 the iliac crest to the iliac portion of the iliopectineal line; it is 

 continued up on the psoas, attached to the sacrum, in verte- 

 bral disks, internal arched ligament of the diaphragm, and 

 externally to the iliolumbar ligament (anterior layer of the 

 lumbar fascia). Below it passes beneath the femoral vessels, 

 forming the hinder part of the femoral sheath; outside the 

 vessels it unites with the transversalis fascia on Poupart's 

 ligament and with the external inguinal ligament, which pro- 

 longs it to the fascia lata (iliac portion) ; internally it joins the 

 pubic portion of the fascia lata. A strong band is attached 

 to the iliopectineal eminence between the psoas and pectineus, 

 called the iliopectineal ligament. 



THE FASCLffi OF THE PERINEUM 



Superficial. In the anterior half of the perineum, continuous 

 with the dartos, is the superficial perineal fascia, or fascia of 



