558 



DISSECTION OF THE THIGH. 



the thigh : they are fixed to the femur, so as to limit on the sides the 

 extensor of the knee. The position of these partitions is marked on the 

 surface by white lines. 



At the top of the thigh the fascia is fixed to the prominent borders of 

 the pelvis. Thus it is connected externally with the iliac crest, and inter- 

 nally with the pubes and the pubic arch. In the middle line behind it is 

 joined to the lower end of the sacrum and coccyx ; and in front, to Pou- 

 part's ligament between the pubes and the iliac crest. Behind the knee- 

 joint the fascia passes uninterruptedly to the leg ; but in front of the ar- 

 ticulation it blends with an expansion from the extensor muscle, and is 

 continued over the joint and the patella, though separated from that bone 

 by a bursa, to be inserted into the heads of the tibia and fibula. 



On each side of the patella is a band of almost transverse fibres (reti- 

 naculum) which is attached to and supports the knee-cap. The outer, 



Fig. 193. 



Vessels : 



a. Saphenous vein. 

 6. Superficial pudic. 

 c Superficial epigastric. 

 d. Superficial circumflex 



iliac. 



. Inguinal glands. 

 /. Sapheuous opening. 



Nerves: 



1. Ilio-inguinal. 



2. External cutaneous. 



3. Genito-crural. 



4. Middle cutaneous. 

 Small unnamed vessels 



accompany the different 

 ' nerves to the teguments. 



DISSECTION OF THB SUPERFICIAL PARTS OF THE THIGH (Illustrations of Dissections). 



thick and strong, is continuous externally with the ilio-tibial band, and 

 joins the insertion of the vastus externus at its attachment to the upper 

 part of the patella: it guides the patella outwards when the joint is bent. 

 The inner band, of slight strength, is fixed to the patella lower than the 

 other, and unites with the insertion of the inner vastus. 



Directions. The flaps of skin which were removed from the front of 

 the thigh, to follow the cutaneous vessels and nerves, are to be now 



