THE ABDOMINAL WALLS 271 



of the brim of the pelvis. Passing behind the inguinal ligament, it enters 

 the thigh and is inserted into the lesser trochanter (p. 406). This muscle 

 forms a fleshy pad, which separates the kidney from the vertebral column. 

 It receives its nerve-supply from the anterior rami of L. 2 and 3. 



The lliacus fills up the hollow on the ventral surface of the 

 ilium and has the psoas major related to its medial border. 

 Most of its fibres are inserted into the psoas tendon. It is 

 supplied by the femoral (ant. crural) nerve. 



Both these muscles act together, and when the lower limb is 

 free to move they act as flexors of the hip-joint ; when the 

 lower limb is fixed, they act as flexors of the trunk. 



The Fascia Iliaca, which is continuous above with the fascia 

 trans versalis and below with the parietal layer of the pelvic 

 fascia (p. 356), covers both the iliacus and the psoas. It is firmly 

 attached to the iliac crest and to the lateral part of the inguinal 

 ligament. Opposite the femoral vessels, it passes down into the 

 thigh, forming the posterior wall of the femoral sheath (p. 402). 



Along the line of origin of the transversus from the lumbo- 

 dorsal fascia, the transversalis fascia becomes adherent to or 

 partially blended with the latter. As it is continued medially, 

 it is separated from the quadratus lumborum by the anterior 

 lamella of the lumbo-dorsal fascia, but it is in direct contact 

 with the psoas major (Fig. 82). At the lateral border of the 

 kidney the transversalis fascia splits to enclose both the kidney 

 and the suprarenal gland, but a fibrous partition separates the 

 two structures so that, when the fascia is incised, the kidney 

 can be drawn out while the suprarenal gland remains in place. 



The fascia which surrounds the kidney is termed the 

 peri-nephric fascia. It limits a space (Gerota's), which is closed 

 above, below, and to the lateral side, but which is open medially, 

 where both layers are continued across the middle line. They 

 are separated from one another by the renal vessels, the aorta, 

 and inferior vena cava. The two layers meet inferiorly just 

 below the lower pole of the kidney, but they may, abnormally, 

 remain separate for a much greater distance. The latter condi- 

 tion constitutes a predisposing cause of movable kidney (p. 353). 



The abdomen possesses a complete fascial envelope, which is 

 formed by (i) the fascia transversalis, (2) the diaphragmatic 

 fascia, (3) the peri-nephric fascia, (4) the fascia iliaca, and (5) 

 the pelvic fascia. Prolongations of this fascial envelope form 

 the femoral sheath and the internal spermatic or infundibuliform 

 fascia, which covers the testis and the spermatic cord. 



The large blood-vessels of the abdomen' and pelvis lie inside 



