SUPERFICIAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL 

 ANATOMY. 



BY G. D. THANE AND R. J. GODLEE. 



IN this section will be comprised, 1, a brief account of the external conforma- 

 tion of the body, including the relation of its anatomical constituents to its surface 

 forms, and the mode of determining the position of deep-seated organs, such as the 

 viscera, large vessels, and other important parts ; and 2, the topographical and 

 surgical anatomy of the inguinal and perineal regions. 



SUPERFICIAL ANATOMY OF THE HEAD AND NECK. 



THE HEAD AND FACE. 



The upper part of the cranium is but thinly covered by the scalp, and the 

 form of the head is almost exactly that of the skull. The bones can be readily 

 examined by passing the hand over the head, and the following parts are thus to be 

 distinguished : In the middle line behind is the external occipital protuberance, 

 from which the superior curved line proceeds outwards on each side towards the 

 mastoid process ; below this line the bone is obscured by the overlying muscles, 

 except in the middle line, where the external occipital crest may sometimes be felt 

 at the bottom of the nuchal furrow between the posterior muscles of the neck. 

 Above the occipital protuberance, the lambdoid suture is often to be followed as a 

 slight depression on the surface, owing to the projection of the occipital bone 

 beyond the hinder part of the parietals. The lambda, corresponding to the central 

 and highest point of this depression, is about two and a half inches (6 7 cm.) 

 above the external occipital protuberance. Above the lambda there is usually a 

 well-marked flattened surface at the region of the obelion (see Osteology, p. 83) ; 

 and in front of this again the parietal bones often form in the neighbourhood of 

 their junction a broad longitudinal ridge, in which the position of the sagittal 

 suture is indicated by a slight median depression. 



At the fore part of the lateral region of the head the temporal crest of the 

 frontal bone becomes prominent, and leads down to the external angular process, 

 the junction of which with the malar bone is marked by a distinct depression. 

 Below this the outline of the malar bone can be followed, and from the hinder part 

 of the latter the finger passes along the zygoma to its base in front of the ear. 

 Higher up on the side of the head the lower temporal line on the parietal bone is 

 frequently to be recognised, indicating the extent upwards of the temporal muscle. 

 The margin of the orbit can be felt in its whole extent, and is found to be 

 interrupted above, somewhat internal to the centre, by the supraorbital notch, 

 unless this be converted into a foramen, when it is scarcely perceptible. Above the 

 orbit is the variable superciliary ridge, small in the female and absent in the child ; 

 and above this on the forehead is the frontal eminence, which, like the parietal 

 eminence, is most marked during childhood. In the infant, the anterior fontanelle 

 is felt as a lozenge-shaped depression, leading forwards to the interval between the 



