THIGH AND BUTTOCK. 



band to join the hip-joint capsule and both origins of the Rec- 

 tus femoris. [356] 



On each side of the thigh, above the knee, it forms an inter- 

 muscular septum. The external septum runs from the ilio- 

 tibial band to the external supra-condyloid ridge of the femur. 

 The internal septum encloses the Gracilis and Sartorius sepa- 

 rately, and the Adductors in the upper two-thirds of the thigh. 

 It roofs over the femoral artery in Hunter's canal, is strength- 

 ened mesially by fibres from the Vastus internus and Adductors, 

 and is mostly replaced in the lower third of the thigh by the 

 Adductor magnus tendon. On the back of the thigh and over 

 the popliteal space it is strengthened by fibres from the ham- 

 strings; the external saphenous vein usually pierces it over 

 the popliteal space. [357] 



The saphenous opening is an oval opening in the fascia lata 

 just below the inner half of Poupart's ligament and in front of 

 the femoral vessels ; it transmits the internal saphenous vein. 

 It is covered by the superficial fascia, and by a special, thin, 

 and perforated layer (cribriform fascia) attached to its margin. 

 Its outer edge is the margin of the iliac portion of the fascia 

 lata, which is attached to the iliac crest and Poupart's liga- 

 ment; its superior cornu is a triangular prolongation (falci- 

 form ligament) of the iliac portion, which runs inward in front 

 of the femoral sheath to join the inner half of Poupart's liga- 

 ment. Its inner edge is the margin of the pubic portion of the 

 fascia lata, which passes upward under the femoral sheath, but 

 over the Pectineus and Adductor longus, to the ileo-pectineal 

 line and hip-joint capsule. Both layers of the fascia lata are 

 continuous at its lower concave margin, forming its inferior 

 cornu. [356] 



The femoral sheath is conical and formed by transversalis 

 fascia in front and iliac fascia behind; it is prolonged under 

 Poupart's ligament into Scarpa's triangle. It is divided into 

 three compartments, of which the outer and intermediate ones 

 contain the femoral artery and vein respectively. The inner 



[271] 



