THE LEG 357 



MEDIAL CRURAL REGION. 



This region corresponds to the subcutaneous or medial 

 surface of the tibia. The deep fascia blends with the peri- 

 osteum of the bone, and the structures which have to be 

 examined are : 



1. The great saphenous vein. 



2. The saphenous nerve. 



3. The expanded tendons of insertion of the sartorius, semitendinosus, and 



gracilis. 



4. The tibial collateral ligament of the knee joint. 

 5.. The inferior medial genicular artery. 



6. The inferior medial articular nerve. 



Dissection. The great saphenous vein and the saphenous 

 nerve have already been cleaned where they lie upon the distal 

 third of the medial surface of the tibia. Now remove the remains 

 of the superficial fascia from the region of the medial surface 

 of the tibia, then again examine the insertions of the sartorius, 

 gracilis, and semitendinosus. 



The expanded terminal parts of the tendons of the 

 sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus are all inserted into 

 the proximal third of the medial surface of the tibia. Note 

 how the sartorius overlaps the tendons of the other two, and 

 how the tendon of the gracilis overlaps the proximal part of 

 the tendon of the semitendinosus. Mucous bursae separate 

 the tendons from each other. 



Under cover of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus, 

 and separated from them by a bursa, the tibial collateral 

 ligament of the knee joint extends distally, for a short distance, 

 upon the medial aspect of the body of the tibia. Passing 

 forwards under cover of the ligament, so as to gain the 

 anterior aspect of the knee, are the inferior medial genicular 

 vessels and the inferior medial articular nerve. 



As the great saphenous vein and the saphenous nerve 

 cross the distal third of the medial surface of the tibia, they 

 are very liable to injury because they lie quite superficially 

 between the skin and the bone. 



POSTERIOR CRURAL REGION. 



The following is a list of the structures which are met 

 with in this dissection : 



