THE VESSELS. 331 



the centre between spina ilei anter. superior and symphysis pubis, 

 and terminates on the inner side of the limb, below its middle. 

 Position : for about three inches below Poupart's ligament the ar- 

 tery is covered in front by the skin, fasc. lata and lymphatic glands, 

 then by m. sartorius, which passes obliquely from above down- 

 wards and from without inwards, and inclines to the inner side of 

 vastits intern, in the groove between this and the insertions of the 

 Adductores. Behind it rests in a groove between m. psoas (with- 

 out) and pectinceus (within), upon the body of the os pubis, the 

 eminentia ileo-pectincea, before the internal third of the acetabulum, 

 so that a space of from one inch to one and a half is found between 

 it and the superior part of the os femor., farther down upon the 

 adductor magnus, the tendon of which it perforates, and passes 

 upon the posterior surface of the thigh. Above, the vein lies to 

 the inner, farther down on the posterior side ; the nerve on the 

 outer side of the artery. The art. and ven.femor. lie in a proper 

 sheath, into which n. saphen. internus penetrates, whilst nerv. cru- 

 ralis remains in its own sheath. Branches : 



1. Inguinales, three to six, small, arise in front close under lig. Poupart. ; 

 they ramify in the glands and skin of the groin. 



2. Epigastrica superficialis , arises one inch below the femoral arch, in front, 

 perforates proc. falciform., passes vertically upwards, between the skin and 

 fasc. superficialis, gives a transverse ram. iliacus inwards towards the spina 



ilei, and terminates at the umbilicus, in the skin. 



3. Pudenda externce (scrotales or labiales anteriores}, usually a superior and 

 an inferior ; they pass from arcus cruralis transversely inwards ; the superior 

 close under the skin to the mons Veneris, penis and scrotum (or labia majord); 

 the inferior covered by ihe fascia, transversely before Ven. crural., under ven. 

 saphena. 



4. Profundafemoris, supplies the muscles and skin on the inner and poste- 

 rior surface of the thigh. Origin : H to 2 inches below the femoral arch, 

 sometimes also higher, rarely deeper. Course : immediately backwards, 

 then downwards between mm. adductores, closer Jo the bone than art.femo- 

 ralis, perforates the adductor magn. (above the perforation (orfemoralis), and 

 is lost in biceps and semitendinosus. Position : above before the termination 

 of flexor, femoris and pectinceus, lastly adductor magnus and brevis, behind ad- 

 ductor longus. 



Branches: 1. The circumflex arteries, two. 



2. The perforating arteries, three to five. 



1. Circum-ftexa femoris interna, arises i to 1 inch below the commencement 

 ofprof.femor.; passes backwards and transversely inwards between m. pecti- 

 nceus and flexor, femor., above t rochant er minor, to the 



internal and posterior surface of the neck of the femur. Branches : ram. 

 superficial, to m. pectinceus, abduct, long, and brevis. 



