The Popliteal Space. 351 



Ligation of the popliteal artery, at its upper part, is 

 done through an incision about three inches long just be- 

 hind the tendon of the adductor longus. The anterior 

 branch of the internal cutaneous nerve and the long saphe- 

 nous vein may be exposed in the line of the incision and 

 should be avoided; the deep fascia is incised in front of 

 tihe sartorius muscle, which is then drawn backwards, and 

 ithe white tendon of tlhe adductor longus is identified and 

 drawn forwards ; the semi-membranosus is drawn back 

 and the artery sought for, between this muscle and 

 the bone and close to the latter. By this incision the 

 artery is approached from the inside and is reached without 

 necessarily exposing the popliteal nerve or vein. Care 

 should be exercised in passing the needle around the 

 artery since the vein is very adherent to the vessel and 

 might be wounded. 



