FEMORAL HERNIA. 



1059 



Femoral Sheath. The fomoral or crural sheath is a continuation downward of 

 the fasciae that line the abdomen, the transversalis fascia passing down in front of 

 the femoral vessels, and the iliac fascia descending behind them : these fasciae 

 are directly continuous on the iliac side of -the femoral artery, but a small space 

 exists between the femoral vein and the point where they are continuous on the 

 pubic side of that vessel, which constitutes the femoral or crural, canal. The 

 femoral sheath is closely adherent to the contained vessels about an inch below 

 the saphenous opening, being blended with the areolar sheath of the vessels, 

 but opposite Poupart's ligament it is much larger than is required to contain them ; 

 hence the funnel-shaped form which it presents. The outer border of the sheath 

 is perforated by the genito-crural nerve. Its inner border is pierced by the internal 

 saphenous vein and numerous lymphatic vessels. In front it is covered by the 

 iliac portion of the fascia lata ; and behind it is the pubic portion of the same 

 fascia. 



If the anterior wall of the sheath is removed, the femoral artery and vein are 

 seen lying side by side, a thin septum separating the two vessels, while another 

 septum may be seen lying just internal to the vein, and cutting off a small space 

 between the vein and the inner wall of the sheath. The septa are stretched between 

 the anterior and posterior walls of the sheath, so that each vessel is enclosed in 

 a separate compartment. The interval left between the vein and the inner 

 wall of the sheath is not filled up by any structure, excepting a little loose 

 areolar tissue, a few lymphatic vessels, and occasionally by a small lymphatic 



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FIG. 589. Hernia. The relations of the femoral and internal abdominal rings, seen from within the abdo- 

 men. Right side. 



gland : this is the femoral or crural canal, through which the intestine descends in 

 femoral hernia. 



Deep Crural Arch. Passing across the front of the femoral sheath on the 

 abdominal side of Poupart's ligament, and closely connected with it, is a thickened 

 band of fibres called the deep crural arch. It is apparently a thickening of the 

 transvqrsalis fascia, joining externally to the centre of Poupart's ligament, and 

 arching across the front of the crural sheath, to be inserted by a broad attachment 

 into the pectineal line behind the conjoined tendon. In some subjects this 

 structure is not very prominently marked, and not infrequently it is altogether 

 wanting. 



The crural canal is the narrow interval between the femoral vein and the inner 

 wall of the femoral sheath. It exists as a distinct canal only when the sheath has 



