THE THIGH 253 



at the distal end of the canal, it presents a thick, sharply 

 denned margin. In its distal part the posterior wall of 

 the canal, where it is formed by the adductor magnus, 

 presents a deficiency or aperture which leads backwards 

 into the popliteal fossa. The appearance and construc- 

 tion of this aperture will be studied at a later stage. It 

 is called the hiatus tendimus or opening in the adductor 

 magnus. 



The femoral vessels and the saphenous nerve traverse the 

 adductor canal. Whilst the femoral artery is in the canal it 

 gives off some muscular twigs and the arteria genu suprema. 

 The femoral vessels leave the canal at its distal end by inclin- 

 ing posteriorly through the opening in the adductor magnus 

 and entering the popliteal fossa. The saphenous nerve, 

 accompanied by the saphenous branch of the arteria genu 

 suprema, escape from the canal by passing under cover of 

 the distal thickened margin of the fibrous expansion which 

 forms the roof. They can be seen in the present stage of 

 the dissection in that situation. 



Arteria Femoralis (O.T. Femoral Artery, Common and 

 Superficial). By the dissections which have been made the 

 whole of the femoral artery has been exposed, and its course 

 and relations may now be studied. It is the direct con- 

 tinuation of the external iliac artery and is the great arterial 

 trunk of the inferior extremity. It begins at the inguinal 

 ligament, behind which it enters the thigh, and it extends, 

 distally, through the proximal two-thirds of the thigh to the 

 opening in the adductor magnus, through which it passes into 

 the popliteal fossa and becomes the popliteal artery. The 

 course of the femoral artery may be marked on the surface, 

 when the t^iigh is slightly flexed, abducted and rotated later- 

 ally, by a line drawn from a point situated midway between 

 the anterior superior spine of the ilium and the symphysis 

 pubis to the adductor tubercle on the medial condyle of the 

 femur. 



The relations which the artery bears to the femur are im- 

 portant. As it enters the femoral triangle it leaves the brim of 

 the pelvis and lies in front of the medial part of the head of 

 the femur, from which it is separated by the psoas major 

 muscle. Although its relation to the head of the femur is fairly 

 intimate, that situation should not be chosen for applying com- 

 pression, for, on account of the mobility of the head of the 



