136 ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE NERVES. 



ilio-lumbar artery, just below its origin, and takes nearly a 

 similar course to the inward part of the haunch, and then 

 ramifies upon the skin ; in its way it detaches a considerable 

 branch, called the spermaticus externus, which passes through 

 the abdominal ring, and sends twigs, in the male, to the scro- 

 tum and testicle ; in the female, filaments go from it to the 

 uterus, u.d(ier, and external labia. 



The third nerve contributes to form the crural and obtura- 

 tor. It sends small branches to the sympathetic, psoas, and 

 obturator nerves. 



The fourth nerve sends a branch to the sympathetic, con- 

 tributes to the production of the crural j and also sends a 

 branch to the obturator. 



The fifth nerve communicates with the sympathetic, cru- 

 ral, and sciatic plexus. 



SACRAL NERVES 



Consist of five pairs ; a superior and inferior fascicula. The 

 superior make their exit through holes upon the upper part 

 of the sacrum, and are there buried under a thick mass of 

 muscle, and become cutaneous upon the outer part of the 

 haunch. 



The inferior fascicula. The first nerve largely contrib- 

 utes to the origin of the sciatic plexus, and sends a branch to 

 the gluteal nerve ; also to the sympathetic and second lum- 

 bar nerves. The second nerve communicates with the third 

 and sympathetic, and sends branches to the surrounding 

 muscles and sciatic plexus. The third and fourth have simi- 

 lar connections. The fifth passes into the coccygeal muscles. 



COCCYGEAL NERVES. 



These issue from the spine, in the same manner as the last 

 described. They communicate with one another, are dis- 

 tributed to muscles in the vicinity, and end in filamentous 

 ramifications at the end of the tail. 



