THE THIGH 227 



the falciform margin of the fossa ovalis find the lumbo-inguinal 

 nerve which pierces the fascia lata a short distance distal to the 

 inguinal ligament. About 50 mm. (two inches) distal to the 

 anterior superior spine of the ilium find the posterior branch of 

 the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh as it pierces the fascia lata 

 and 50 mm. more distally the anterior branch of the same nerve. 

 About midway between the lateral cutaneous nerve and the 

 great saphenous vein seek for the intermediate cutaneous nerve 

 of the thigh, and along the anterior margin of the great saphenous 

 vein, in the distal third of the thigh, look for the anterior branch 

 of the medial cutaneous nerve of the thigh. Follow the lateral, 

 the intermediate, and the medial cutaneous nerves towards the 

 patella, where they join the patellar plexus (Fig. 107). Behind 

 the great saphenous vein, near the knee, look for the posterior 

 branch of the medial cutaneous nerve. Near the distal end of 

 the medial femoral region in front of the great saphenous vein, 

 find the infra-patellar branch of the saphenous nerve and trace 

 it to the patellar plexus, then, at the posterior border of the 

 medial side of the knee, behind the great saphenous vein, find 

 the saphenous nerve itself as it pierces the deep fascia (Fig. 163). 



Superficial Inguinal Vessels. - - Three small arteries, 

 termed the superficial epigastric, the superficial external 

 pudendal and the superficial circumflex iliac, pierce the deep 

 fascia of the thigh below the inguinal ligament, and radiate 

 from each other for the supply of the lymph glands and 

 integument of the subinguinal and inguinal regions. They 

 all spring from the femoral artery immediately after it enters 

 the thigh. 



Art. Pudenda externa superfirialis. The superficial external 

 pudendal artery passes forwards, through the fascia cribrosa, 

 which is spread over the fossa ovalis, and runs medially and 

 upwards across the spermatic cord. It supplies the skin of 

 the scrotum and penis or labium majus (Fig. 106). 



Art. Epigastrica superficialis. The superficial epigastric artery 

 also pierces the cribriform fascia, turns upwards and leaves 

 the thigh by crossing the inguinal ligament about its middle. 

 It is distributed chiefly to the skin on the front of the 

 abdomen. 



Art. Circumflexa ilium superficialis. The superficial circum- 

 flex iliac artery pierces the fascia lata lateral to the falciform 

 margin of the fossa ovalis. It is very small, and courses 

 proximally and laterally, along the inguinal ligament, towards 

 the anterior superior spine of the ilium (Fig. 106). 



The veins which accompany these arteries converge to- 

 wards the fossa ovalis and join the great saphenous vein before 

 it pierces the fascia cribrosa. 



