THE POSTERIOR AORTA. 



141 



gives off a tube to the traversalis abdominis ; and another 

 that proceeds forwards, chiefly to supply the other abdominal 

 muscles. The arteria profunda femoris {Fig 14 .f; fig 15 . b) 

 also comes from the external iliac, at the termination of the 

 main trunk ; and dives amongst the thickest of the thigh ; 

 before which, however, it gives off the epigastric artery {Fig 

 14 . g ; fig 15 . c) ; which runs along the border of the 

 rectus muscle, to unite with the internal pectoral artery. 



FIG 16. 



THE OUTSIDE OF THE HIND LEG. 



a, Gluteal branches. 



b, The arteria inuomiiiata. 



c, The anterior tibial. 



d, The metacarpal. 



The femoral artery {Fig 15 . d), passing out of the abdomen, 

 descends along the internal side of the femur, to about the 



