92 THE POCKET ANATOMY 



the digital fossa of the great trochanter ; anas, sciatic and 

 gluteal ; the other passes to the hamstrings, appears between 

 adjacent borders of quadratus femoris and adductor magnus, 

 gives off muscular branch at upper border of adductor brevis, 

 which divides into superficial and deep branches to upper 

 adductor muscles, the trunk of the artery then passes out- 

 wards and backwards ; anas, first perforating, sciatic, and 

 external circumflex (crucial anastomosis}. An articular branch 

 enters the joint through the notch in acetabulum. 



Perforating branches : four in number, reach the back of 

 thigh by perforating the adductor magnus, and end in the 

 back of thigh : 



First, begins opposite lower border of pectineus, perforates 

 adductores brevis and magnus, distributed to biceps and 

 gluteus maximus ; anas, sciatic, internal and external 

 circumflex. 



Second, comes off opposite middle of short adductor, per- 

 forating it and the magnus, distributed to hamstrings ; a 

 nutrient artery (passing upwards) is given off; anas, other 

 perforating branches. 



Third, arises at the lower border of adductor brevis, per- 

 forates magnus, as the second, ending in the biceps. 



Fourth, or terminal branch, pierces adductor magnus near 

 opening for femoral vessels, supplies short head of biceps ; 

 anas, popliteal and lower perforating. 



Muscular Branches : two to seven in number, supplying 

 sartorius and vastus internus. 



Anastomotic branch : arises at the termination of the femoral, 

 and courses in the line of the femoral to the internal condyle. 



Branches : 



Deep branch, descends inner side of knee ; anas, superior 

 internal articular ; gives off external branch, crosses the femur, 

 supplying branches to knee-joint ; anas, superior external 

 articular, forming an arch above patella. 



Superficial branch, accompanies long saphenous nerve to 

 integument; anas, inferior internal articular. 



THE POPLITEAL ARTERY. 



Extent. From the opening in the adductor magnus to 

 lower border of popliteus, dividing into anterior and posterior 

 tibial. 



Course. Upper part inclines from inner side of femur to 

 middle of intercondylar space, thence occupying middle line 

 of popliteal space. 



