168 THE POCKET ANATOMY 



cutaneous, and a communicating branch to the 3rd, which 

 also forms part of the anterior crural and obturator. 



The 3rd gives off part of the external cutaneous, of the 

 anterior crural, and of the obturator. 



The 4th gives off a branch to the anterior crural, one to the 

 obturator, and a communicating one to the 5th. 



Muscular branches are also supplied to the psoas and quad- 

 ratus lumborum. 



BRANCHES OF THE LUMBAR PLEXUS. 



Ilio-hypogastric : from ist lumbar, appears at upper part of 

 outer border ot psoas, crosses quadratus lumborum to iliac 

 crest, and, piercing the trans versalis, divides into: 



Iliac branch: pierces two oblique muscles, crosses iliac crest 

 behind lateral cutaneous of last dorsal to integument of 

 buttock. 



Hyfiogastric branch : pierces internal oblique and then ex- 

 ternal oblique aponeurosis above abdominal ring to integument 

 of hypogastric region. 



Ilio-inguinal : from ist lumbar ; passes over quadratus 

 lumborum and iliacus to iliac crest, pierces the transversalis 

 and internal oblique ; it then accompanies the cord through 

 canal and external ring, and is distributed to the integument 

 of the groin and the scrotum. 



Genito-crural : from 2nd lumbar, with a branch from ist. 

 Passes on the psoas to Poupart's ligament to divide into : 



Genital branch : crosses external iliac, enters inguinal canal 

 through internal abdominal ring, accompanies spermatic cord, 

 and supplies the cremaster muscle. In the female it accom- 

 panies the round ligament of the uterus. 



Cmral branch : passes beneath Poupart's ligament, perforates 

 fascia on outer side of femoral artery, communicates with 

 middle cutaneous nerve, supplies integument of upper and 

 front of thigh. 



External cutaneous : from loop between 2nd and 3rd lumbar ; 

 perforates middle of outer border of psoas, and enters thigh 

 just below anterior superior iliac spine, where it divides 

 into : 



Anterior branch: contained at first in a tube of the fascia 

 lata ; supplies outer part of anterior surface of thigh. 



Posterior branch : supplies outer surface of thigh to the middle. 



Obturator : from 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lumbar ; passes from 

 inner border of psoas, near brim of pelvis and above obturator 

 artery, but below external iliac, to canal in upper part of 

 thyroid foramen. In this canal it divides into : 



