346 Anatomy Applied to Medicine and Sutgery. 



it sinks in between the biceps tendon and the outer head 

 of the gastrocnemius, so that, it is only possible to elicit 

 the sensation peculiar to the nerve when compressed, by 

 sinking the nail of the ringer or thumb, deeply, immediate- 

 ly above the styloid process of the fibula. The lymphatic 

 glands receive the deep lymphatic vessels, which accom- 

 pany the bloodvessels of the back of the leg, and, in addi- 

 tion, the superficial lymphatics from the superficial struc- 

 tures of the back of the leg and sole of the foot. The effer- 

 ent vessels from these popliteal glands terminate in the 

 deep femoral or inguinal glands. The popliteal vein is 

 formed by the union of the venae comites of the anterior 

 and posterior tibials at the lower border of the popliteus 

 muscle. At the lower part of the popliteal space it is a 

 little internal to the artery, but gradually crosses it, being 

 firmly bound down to it by the fascial sheath of the vessel, 

 so that, at the upper end of the space, it lies external to the 

 artery. The popliteal artery, the downward continuation 

 of the femoral, ends at the lower border of the popliteus 

 muscle, where it divides into anterior and posterior tibial. 

 Relations. In its passage through the popliteal space it 

 rests upon the popliteal surface of the femur, on the pos- 

 terior ligament of the joint, on the tibia and on the fascia 

 covering the popliteus muscle. Behind; are the semi- 

 membranosus muscle, the popliteal vein, internal popliteal 

 nerve, inner head of the gastrocnemius, the articular 

 branch of the obturator nerve, and a lymphatic gland, 

 with the integument, the superficial and the deep fasciae 

 overlying them. Inside, are the semi-membranosus, 

 above, and the inner head of the gastrocnemius, and the 

 internal popliteal nerve, below. Outside, are the biceps 

 and the internal popliteal above, with the outer head of the 

 gastrocnemius and the plantaris below. 



