FASC1M Of THE THIGH 219 



ligament to the abdomen and inward above into the d.-irtos 

 of the scrotum and superficial fascia of the perineum. A deep 

 layer of this fascia is continued across the saphenous opening, 

 perforated by vessels and lymphatics, cribriform fascia. 



The deep fascia or fascia lata is a strong membrane forming 

 a continuous sheath around the limb; it is attached above to 

 the back of the sacrum and coccyx in the median line, to the 

 crest of the ilium, Poupart's ligament, body and rami of the 

 pubis, ramus and tuberosity of the ischium, and lower margin 

 of the great sacrosciatic ligament. It descends on the gluteus 

 medius as far as the upper border of the gluteus maximus, 

 which muscle it encases, and over the great trochanter a great 

 part of the muscle is inserted between its layers. Fr. m the 

 forepart of the iliac crest to the outer tuberosity of the tibia 

 is the iliotibial band, which receives the tensor vaginae femoris 

 and gluteus maximus insertions. 



The fascia is thinnest at the inner part of the thigh over 

 the abductors, and strengthened on each side of the patella 

 by expansions from the vasti. Posteriorly it is continuous 

 over the hamstrings and popliteal space. 



On the front of the thigh, below the inner end of Poupart's 

 ligament, is the saphenous opening, bounded externally by 

 the falciform border (ligament of Burns), more distinctly curved 

 above and below as the superior and inferior cornua. The 

 inner extremity of the superior cornu passes to the inner side 

 of the femoral sheath and to Gimbernat's ligament; it is the 

 femoral ligament (Hey). 



The parts external and internal to the saphenous opening 

 are the iliac and pubic portions; the line is connected above 

 with Poupart's ligament and the deep layer of superficial 

 fascia (of Scarpa), and internally forms the falciform margin 

 of the saphenous opening. 



The pubic portion, or pectineal fascia, is attached above 

 to the iliopectineal line, passes behind the femoral vessels, 

 closely connected with the sheath, and merges into the iliac 

 fascia and capsule of the hip. 



The fascia lata has various deep processes; one is internal 

 to the tensor vagina? femoris on the surface of the vastus 

 externus. 



There are external and internal intermuscular septa inserted 

 into the linea aspera. 



