560 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY, 



the thigh, by vertical fibres extending from the anterior 

 portion of the crest of the ilium to the head of the fibula 

 and external tuberosity of the tibia. Into the upper fourth 

 of this band the tensor vaginae femoris is inserted. 



(<r) Internal Process. An internal process of the fascia 

 lata extends from the notch and inferior anterior iliac spine, 

 along the inner surface of the tensor vaginae femoris muscle, 

 to join the iliotibial band just below the insertion of the 

 muscle. 



(d} TJie Saphenous Opening. The confusion in the 

 descriptions of the saphenous opening all arise from the 

 fact that the opening does not exist in the normal condition. 

 It is a product of a femoral hernia or of the dissector. 

 Different dissectors manufacture different sorts of openings, 

 according to their preconceived ideas derived from the 

 descriptions they have read, or as a result of careless dis- 

 section, or from the varying conditions of the fascia itself, 

 (for not all fasciae have the margins of the opening equally 

 plain). 



Stated briefly, the saphenous opening is simply a gap 

 produced by the separation of the iliac and pubic portions 

 of the fascia lata, the iliac portion having the external and 

 more superficial attachment (Poupart's ligament, spine of 

 pubes), the pubic portion having the more internal and 

 deep attachment (to the iliopectineal line and iliac fascia 

 behind the femoral vessels). Through this gap passes the 

 internal saphenous vein, superficial external pudic and 

 superficial epigastric arteries, and the genitocrural nerve. 



The opening is about one inch below the inner portion 

 of Poupart's ligament, its vertical diameter one and one- 

 fourth or one-half inch, its transverse, one-half to three- 

 fourths of an inch. These measurements are after dis- 

 section. The outer or iliac portion, bounding the opening, 



