574 THE BLOOD-VASCULAR SYSTEM. 



occasionally the superficial epigastric vein. It rests on the inner margin of the 

 Psoas muscle, which separates it from the capsular ligament of the hip-joint, and 

 a little lower on the Pectineus muscle ; and crossing behind it is the branch to the 

 Pectineus from the anterior crural nerve. Separating the artery from the Pec- 

 tineus muscles in the pubic portion of the fascia lata and the prolongation from the 

 fascia covering the Iliacus muscle, which forms the posterior layer of the sheath 

 of the vessels. The anterior crural nerve lies about half an inch to the outer 

 side of the common femoral artery, being separated from the artery by a small 

 part of the Psoas muscle. To the inner side of the artery is the femoral vein, 

 between the margins of the Pectineus and Psoas muscles. The two vessels are 

 enclosed in a strong fibrous sheath formed by the proper sheath of the vessels, 

 strengthened by the fascia lata (see page 419) ; the artery and vein are separated, 

 however, from one another by a thin fibrous partition. 



PLAN OF RELATIONS OF THE COMMON FEMORAL ARTERY. 



In front. 



Skin and superficial fascia. 

 Superficial inguinal glands. 

 Iliac portion of fascia lata. 

 Prolongation of transversalis fascia. 

 Crural branch of genito-crural nerve. 

 Superficial circumflex iliac vein. 

 Superficial epigastric vein. 



Outer side. 



-r . j I ''iminiii \ 



Inner side. Femoral Small part of Psoas muscle, 



Femoral vein. separating the artery from the 



anterior crural nerve. 



Behind. 



Prolongation of fascia covering Iliacus muscle. 

 Pubic portion of fascia lata. 

 Nerve to Pectineus. 

 Psoas muscle. 

 Pectineus muscle. 

 Capsule of hip-joint. 



The superficial femoral artery is only superficial where it lies in Scarpa's tri- 

 angle. Here it is covered by the skin, superficial and deep fascia, and crossed 

 by the internal cutaneous branch of the anterior crural nerve. In Hunter's canal 

 it is more deeply seated, being covered by the integument, the superficial and 

 deep fascia, the Sartorius and aponeurotic covering of Hunter's canal. The 

 internal saphenous nerve crosses the artery from without inward. Behind, the 

 artery lies at its upper part on the femoral vein and the profunda artery and 

 vein, which separate it from the Pectineus muscle, and lower down on the Adduc- 

 tor longus and Adductor magnus muscles. To the outer side is the long saphe- 

 nous nerve and the nerve to the Vastus internus, the Vastus internus muscle, 

 and, at its lower part, the femoral vein. To the inner side is the Adductor 

 longus above and the Adductor magnus and Sartorius below. 



PLAN OF RELATIONS OF THE SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL ARTERY. 



In front. 



Skin, superficial and deep fasciae. 

 Internal cutaneous nerve. 

 Sartorius. 



Aponeurotic covering of Hunter's canal. 

 Internal saphenous nerve. 



Inner side. >. Outer side. 



Adductor longus. / Amoral' ] Long saphenous nerve. 



Adductor magnus. I Artery. \ Nerve to vastus internus. 



Sartorius. / Vastus internus. 



Femoral vein (below). 



