THE THIGH 257 



Posterior division, 



Rami musculares, 



f To the rectus femoris. 

 ,, vastus medialis. 

 ,, vastus lateralis. 

 ,, vastus inter- 



medius. 

 m. articularis 



genu. 



Ramus cutaneus, Saphenous nerve. 



Rami articulares. 



With the exception of the saphenous nerve, which is distributed 

 upon the medial side of the leg and foot, the distribution of the 

 cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve has been already 

 examined (p. 230). 



The nerve to the pectineus arises a short distance distal to 

 the inguinal ligament and turns medially, posterior to the 

 femoral vessels, to reach its destination. The branches to the 

 sartorius are two or three in number. As a rule, they take 

 origin in common with the intermediate cutaneous nerve. 



The intermediate cutaneous nerve (O.T. middle cutaneous) 

 sometimes pierces the proximal border of the sartorius. 

 It divides into two branches which perforate the fascia lata 

 about three or four inches distal to the inguinal ligament. 



The medial cutaneous nerve (O.T. internal cutaneous} inclines 

 distally and medially, crosses anterior to the femoral artery 

 at the apex of the femoral triangle, and divides into an 

 anterior and a posterior portion, which become superficial, at 

 different levels, on the medial side of the limb. From the 

 trunk of the nerve a few cutaneous twigs are given to the 

 skin over the proximal and medial parts of the thigh. The 

 anterior branch crosses the sartorius muscle and makes its 

 appearance through the fascia lata in the distal part of the 

 thigh, a short distance anterior to the great saphenous vein. 

 The posterior branch runs distally, along the posterior border 

 of the sartorius, and pierces the deep fascia on the medial 

 side of the knee, behind the sartorius and the saphenous 

 nerve. 



A short distance distal to the middle of the thigh the posterior branch of 

 the medial cutaneous nerve forms, with filaments from the obturator nerve 

 and the saphenous nerve, a plexiform interlacement, the sub- sartorial plexus > 

 which is placed deep to the sartorius muscle as it lies over the adductor 

 canal (Hunter's). The twig from the obturator nerve appears at the medial 

 border of the adductor longus. 



The saphenous nerve (O.T. internal saphenous nerve] is the 

 longest branch of the femoral nerve. It springs from the 

 VOL. i 17 



