256 THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



Vena Femoralis. The femoral vein is the direct proximal 

 continuation of the popliteal vein. It begins at the opening 

 in the adductor magnus, through which it enters the adductor 

 canal ; its proximal end passes behind the inguinal ligament 

 and becomes continuous with the external iliac vein. It ac- 

 companies the femoral artery, but the relations of the two 

 vessels to each other differ at different stages of their course. 

 In the distal part of the adductor canal the vein lies posterior 

 to the artery and on its lateral side, but it inclines medially 

 as it ascends, and in the proximal part of the thigh it lies on 

 the medial side of the artery and on the same plane. The 

 crossing from one side to the other takes place posterior to the 

 artery and is very gradual, so that for a considerable distance 

 the femoral vein lies directly posterior to the femoral artery. 

 For a distance of two inches distal to the inguinal ligament 

 it is enclosed within the femoral sheath, of which it occupies 

 the intermediate compartment. 



As it ascends in the thigh the femoral vein receives 

 tributaries which, for the most part, correspond with the 

 branches of the femoral artery. At the fossa ovalis it 

 is joined by the great saphenous vein. The dissector 

 should slit the femoral vein open with the scissors. Several 

 valves will then be seen. One is almost invariably found 

 immediately proximal to the entrance of the vein which 

 corresponds to the profunda artery. 



Nervus Femoralis (O.T. Anterior Crural). The femoral 

 nerve is a large nerve which arises, within the abdomen, 

 from the lumbar plexus. It enters the thigh by passing 

 distally in the interval between the psoas and iliacus muscles, 

 posterior to the inguinal ligament and the fascia iliaca. In 

 the proximal part of the thigh it lies to the lateral side of the 

 femoral artery, and is separated from it by a small portion of 

 the psoas major muscle and the femoral sheath (Fig. 1 1 1 ). 

 A short distance below the inguinal ligament it divides into 

 an anterior and a posterior portion ; they at once resolve 

 themselves into a large number of cutaneous and muscular 

 branches which are named in the following list : 



Kami musculares, / To the pectineus. 



\ ,, sartorius. 

 Anterior division, -{ f Intermediate cutaneous 



Kami cutanei anteriores J "Tf of f the thl S h ' 



' | Medial cutaneous nerve 



I of the thigh. 



