232 ATLAS AND TEXT-BOOK OF HUMAN ANATOMY. 



Fig. 317. — The fascia of the thigh seen from in front. 



Fig. 318. — The fascia of the thigh seen from behind. 



Fig. 319. — The fascia of the lower leg seen from behind. 



Fig. 320. — The fascia of the lower leg, seen from in front, and the dorsal fascia of the foot. 



and transverse fasciculi which are so arranged that sometimes one set and sometimes the other 

 preponderates, or both may occur together. In a general way the posterior portion of the fascia 

 lata is stronger than the anterior and the external portion is decidedly thicker than the internal. 



Upon the posterior surface of the thigh the very thin superficial layer of the fascia lata covers 

 the glutaeus maximus, while the deep layer passes beneath the muscle, and over that portion 

 of the glutaeus medius which is not covered by the maximus, the fascia assumes a markedly 

 tendinous or aponeurotic character and is termed the gluteal fascia (Figs. 238, 240, and 241). 

 In the gluteal sulcus (Fig. 318), over the lower portion of the glutaeus maximus, the fascia con- 

 tains numerous strong transverse fasciculi, and over the flexor muscles it is of average thickness 

 and is composed chiefly of transverse fasciculi which are especially well marked in the popliteal 

 region, where the superficial layer of the fascia lata covers in the popliteal space and its con- 

 tents, the deep layer enveloping its muscular margins. 



The strongest portion of the fascia lata is situated upon the outer side of the thigh and is 

 known as the iliotibial (or MaissiaVs) band (Figs. 296 and 318). This band is composed chiefly 

 of strong tendinous longitudinal fasciculi and receives the insertion of the tensor fasciae latae* 

 and of a portion of the glutaeus maximus (see page 211). Its lower extremity is attached to 

 the external tuberosity of the tibia, and beneath it is situated the vastus lateralis with its large 

 aponeurosis. In the lower portion of the thigh the fascia lata gives off a septum upon either 

 side, and these pass between the femoral muscles to the lips of the linea aspera, forming 

 the internal and external intermuscular septa. Just below the inguinal ligament the fascia lata 

 is composed of two layers. The superficial layer passes over the anterior surface of the sar- 

 torius and the great femoral vessels; the posterior goes behind the sartorius and covers in the 

 iliopectineal fossa (see page 2 10) and the groove between the vastus medialis and the adductors. 

 Over the adductor muscle the fascia is very thin and transparent. The portion of it covering 

 the pectineus is also called the pectineal fascia; it unites with the lower extremity of the iliac 

 fascia to form the iliopectineal fascia covering the floor of the iliopectineal fossa. 



Immediately below the inguinal ligament the superficial layer of the fascia lata exhibits a 

 free internal margin, the falciform margin (Fig. 317), which, together with the pectineal fascia, 

 bounds a round or oval depression in the fascia lata, the oval fossa (saphenous opening). The 

 inferior portion of the falciform margin, which passes almost imperceptibly into the pectineal fascia, 

 is called the inferior cornu, while the superior portion, extending upward to the lacunar ligament, 

 is termed the superior cornu. The opening of the oval fossa is covered by a portion of the 

 superficial layer, the cribriform fascia, which contains a considerable quantity of fat and 

 quite a number of foramina, the largest of which gives passage to the great saphenous vein (the 

 internal saphenous vein). This vein comes from the foot and leg, runs upon the fascia lata, and 



* The surface of the tensor fasciae latae is also covered by a very thin layer of the fascia lata. 



