332 THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



occupies the bottom of the cavity. Lastly, it gives a tubular 

 investment to the ligamentum teres. 



Removal of the Limb. The limb must now be removed from the trunk 

 by dividing the ligamentum teres. It should then be taken to one of the 

 tables set aside for the dissection of separate parts. Before proceeding to 

 the dissection of the leg the attachments of the various muscles to the 

 femur should be revised. The bulk of the muscles may be removed, but 

 a small portion of each should be left, so that the attachments may again 

 be revised, should it be found necessary to do so, at a later period. 



THE LEG. 



Surface Anatomy. Before the dissection of the leg is 

 commenced, the relations of the tibia and fibula to the 

 surface should be carefully investigated. The sharp anterior 

 crest or shin of the tibia does not form a projection visible 

 to the naked eye, but, nevertheless, it is subcutaneous and 

 can be felt very distinctly when the finger is passed along it. 

 It extends from the tuberosity of the tibia to the anterior 

 border of the medial malleolus, pursuing a slightly sinuous 

 course, and in its distal part it is rounded off and indistinct. 



The broad flat medial surface of the body of the tibia is 

 also subcutaneous, distal to the level of the insertion of the 

 sartorius, and the medial border of the bone which forms its 

 posterior boundary can be followed by the finger throughout 

 its entire length from the medial condyle, to the posterior 

 border of the medial malleolus. It indicates the position of 

 the great saphenous vein and the saphenous nerve. 



The fibula, on the whole, is more deeply placed. The head 

 is easily distinguished below and posterior to the lateral 

 condyle of the tibia; the trunk of the peroneal nerve lies 

 behind it. The proximal half of the body of the bone 

 is concealed by the surrounding muscles and cannot be 

 palpated satisfactorily. The distal end of the bone, which 

 forms the lateral malleolus, and the distal part of the body, 

 proximal to the malleolus, are subcutaneous in a triangular area 

 which will be found to be bounded anteriorly by the peronseus 

 tertius, and by the peronaeus longus and brevis muscles 

 posteriorly. 



The two malleoli form marked projections in the region of 

 the ankle. The medial malleolus is the broader and more 



