228 ANATOMY OF THE DOMESTIC FOWL 



long branch to the cseca. Branches of the posterior mesenteric 

 artery anastomose with branches of the anterior mesenteric. 



The crural arteries (Fig. 64, No. 31) are given off in a pair from 

 the posterior aorta. They pass through the mass of the lobes of the 

 kidneys, at about the median region, and extend out of the pelvic 

 cavity in front of the spine and ilio-pubic ligament. 



The crural, or the external iliac artery, is divided into three 

 branches as follows: 



First, the internal pelvic, or umbilical artery, is given off just as 

 the cruralis leaves the pelvic cavity. It passes, as a long vessel, 

 on the inner surface of the lumbo-sacral bones and supplies the 



\ 



FIG. 65. Blood-vessels and nerves of the hind extremity. Inside view of leg. 

 I, Ischiadic nerve. 2, Ischiadic artery. 3, Posterior tibial vein. 4, Vena 

 metatarsa dorsalis interna. 5, Vena metatarsalis plantaris profunda. 6, Vena 

 cruralis. 7, Vena metatarsalis interna, vena magna. 8, Vena tibialis postica. 

 9, Vena metatarsa magna. 10, Nerves of the toes, n, Vena metatarsalis 

 dorsalis profunda. 



obturator internus muscle and extends into the umbilical region. 

 It gives off branches to the abdominal muscles, and, in the female, a 

 branch is distributed to the ligament of the oviduct. 



Second, the arteria circumflex femoris, which passes between the 

 sartorius and vastus internus and extends dorsalward, supplies 

 the sartorius muscle, the vasti muscles, and the ilio-trochanteric 

 region. 



Third, the femoral artery, which passes beside the vena cruralis 

 and extends down the posterior surface of the thigh to the knee- 

 joint, supplies the upper thigh muscles with the exception of the 

 adductor muscles. 



