274 



THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



The anterior division of the obturator nerve enters the thigh 

 over the upper border of the obturator externus muscle, and 

 proceeds, distally, upon the anterior surface of the adductor 

 brevis. Anterior to it are the pectineus and adductor longus 

 muscles. It gives branches to three muscles, viz., the adductor 

 longus, the adductor brevis, and the gracilis. Very rarely 



A.B. Adductor brevis. 

 Ace. Accessory obturator 



nerve. 



A. L. Adductor longus. 

 A.M. Adductor magnus. 



G. Gracilis. 



G.Ma. Glutaeus maximus. 

 I.C. Medial circumflex 

 artery of the thigh. 

 Obt. Obturator nerve. 

 O.K. Obturator externus. 



O.I. Obturator internus 

 P. Pectineus. 

 Py. Piriformis muscle, 

 Q. Quadratus femoris 

 +. Branch to hip join 



1. Cutaneous branch 



2. Twig to walls 



femoral artery. 



3. Branch to kni 



joint. 



FIG. 124. Diagram to illustrate the distribution of the Obturator Nerve and 

 the general disposition of the Adductor Muscles of the Thigh (Paterson). 



it supplies a twig to the pectineus. In addition to these 

 branches it also supplies (i) an articular branch to the hip 

 joint (Fig. 124. + ); (2) a fine twig, which appears at the 

 distal border of the adductor longus, to join the sub-sartorial 

 plexus ; and (3) a terminal twig, which goes to the femoral 

 artery -(Fig. 124) and breaks up into fine filaments upon 

 its walls. 



