1080 DISSECTION OF THE LOWEK LIMBS. 



posterior femoral region. In order to open it the integument may be 

 divided by a longitudinal incision of considerable length, which may be 

 crossed if necessary by a transverse one in the middle of the space, sufficient 

 to allow the integument to be thrown freely back. On removal of the 

 superficial fat, the fascia lata, which is strong in this region, will come into 

 view, and, in the lower part of the space, the terminal twigs of the small 

 sciatic nerve (p. 675), and the upper part of the short saphenous vein (p. 476). 

 The fascia lata is to be divided, and the fat carefully removed from the 

 space, its boundaries cleaned, and the vessels and nerves with their branches 

 traced. Superiorly the biceps muscle on the outside, and the semiteudiuosus 

 and semimembranosua muscle on the inside, and inferiorly the heads of the 

 gastrocnemius muscle with the small belly of the plantaris will thus be 

 exposed. 



Lying in the space the dissector will find the external and internal pop- 

 liteal nerves giving off their articular and sural branches (pp. 676 and 679), 

 and more deeply the popliteal vessels in a common sheath (p. 441). He will 

 follow out the branches of the popliteal artery, viz., its five articular branches, 

 the superior, azygos, and inferior, and its sural branches. On the surface 

 of the popliteal artery, where it enters the space, may be found a twig of the 

 obturator nerve (p. 663). 



When the dissection of the popliteal space has been completed, it is to be 

 united to that of the gluteal region by an incision along the posterior part 

 of the thigh. The course of the small and great sciatic nerves will thus be 

 laid bare, together with the biceps, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus 

 muscles, the twigs of the great sciatic nerve supplied to these muscles, and 

 to the adductor magnus, and the four perforating branches of the deep 

 femoral artery (p. 439) ; the posterior aspect of the adductor maguus muscle 

 will also be exposed. 



3. The Front of the Thigh. On the day on which the subject is laid upon 

 its back, the student should begin the dissection of the front of the thigh, 

 by studying the fasciae connected with the descent of femoral hernia. For 

 this purpose an incision is to be made from the neighbourhood of the 

 anterior superior spinous process of the ilium inwards, in the line of the 

 groin, and carried half way down the inside of the thigh. The large flap 

 of integument thus marked out is to be raised and turned outwards. The 

 subcutaneous fascia is then to be laid bare by the removal of any fat, and it 

 will be advantageous if this can be done in concert with the dissector of the 

 abdomen (p. 292). Various small superficial arteries and veins will be seen, 

 viz. : the superficial epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac, and superior and 

 inferior superficial pudic (p. 437). The fascia lata will be laid bare, and the 

 cribriform fascia overlying the saphenous opening. On the surface of the 

 fascia lata will be brought into view the internal or long saphenous vein 

 passing into the saphenous opening, frequently presenting two branches 

 (p. 475) ; nearly in front of the femoral artery, the crural branch of the 

 genito-crural nerve ; and, in front of the anterior superior spine of the ilium, 

 the external cutaneous nerve (p. 660). A twig of the ilio-inguinal nerve 

 may also be seen distributed to the skin of a small part of the thigh close to 

 the pubes. The border of the saphenous opening is to be made distinct by 

 removing the cribriform fascia, and in doing this the attachment of the 

 superior cornu or falciform process to the pubic portion of the fascia lata is 

 to be shown (p. 293). This falciform process is then to be separated from 

 the fascia lata and turned to the outside sufliciently to expose the infundi- 

 buliform or crural sheath, investing the femoral vessels, and the dissector 



