STRUCTURES IN THE PALM 375 



The hand. Palm. Observe the thenar eminence of thumb 

 muscles; the hypothenar eminence of little-finger muscles, and 

 between them the hollow of the hand, where the long flexor 

 tendons lie. The deep palmar arch is underneath the tendons; 

 the superficial arch lies upon them; the strong palmar fascia holds 

 the tendons in a compartment lined with synovial membrane. 

 Dorsum. The extensor tendons are plainly seen. The radial 

 artery may be felt in the "anatomic snuff-box" (between two of the 

 extensors of the thumb as it winds around the first metacarpal bone 

 to reach the deep palm). 



The long flexor and extensor tendons of the fingers may be 

 plainly felt and seen at the wrist. 



The lower extremity. The inguinal ligament stretches from 

 the spine of the ilium to the tubercle of the pubes. 



The femoral artery, femoral vein, and femoral nerve pass under 

 the ligament, the artery lying on the psoas muscle. Their order 

 from the medial side outward is V-ein, A-rtery, N-erve. 



From the hip down, the anterior surface is alter- 

 nately flexor and extensor 



The posterior surface is exactly the reverse. 



Flexor for hip. 

 Extensor for knee. 

 Flexor for ankle. 

 Extensor for toes. 

 Extensor for hip. 

 Flexor for knee. 

 Extensor for ankle. 

 Flexor for toes. 



Thigh. Anterior and sides of the femur are covered by the 

 quadriceps muscle, which extends the knee. The sartorius muscle 

 crosses from the anterior spine of the ilium to the middle of the 

 medial side of the thigh and down to the tibia, and when it con- 

 tracts it makes a depression rather than an elevation, because it 

 binds the soft tissue under it. Posterior. The biceps, semi- 

 membranosus and semitendinosus muscles flex the knee; they are 

 hamstring muscles, making the upper boundaries of the popliteal 

 space. The medial side of the thigh is occupied by the adductor 

 muscles, with the obturator nerve and vessels. 



Leg. Anterior. The medial surface of the tibia is called sub- 

 cutaneous because it is not covered by muscles; the long saphenous 

 nerve and vein extend the whole length of this surface. 



The anterior tibial muscles occupy the neighboring surfaces of 



