BRANCHES OF SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL 585 



adductor muscles. Tliey form a series of loop.-; by anastomosinsr with one another 

 (fig. 373), and with the gluteal, internal eircumtlex, and sciatic arteries above, 

 and with the muscular and articular branches of the ])opliteal below. They are 

 distributed chiefly to the liamstring nuiscles, but send twigs along the external 

 intermuscular septum to supply the integuments at the back and outer parts of 

 the tliigh. Other branches perforate the external intermuscular septum and the 

 short head of the biceps, and, entering the crureus and vastus externus, anasto- 

 mose with the descending branch of the external circumflex. All the perforating 

 arteries, moreover, contribute to reinforce the artery of the sciatic nerve, a branch 

 of the sciatic artery. They are each accompanied by two veins which terminate in 

 the profunda. 



(i) The superior or first perforating is given off from the profunda as that 

 vessel sinks beneath the adductor longus. It either pierces the adductor brevis, 

 or else runs l)etween the pectineus and adductor brevis, and then passes through a 

 small aponeurotic opening in the adductor magnus close to the inner lip of the 

 linea aspera. In this course it supplies branches to the adductors, and, after 

 perforating the adductor magnus, is distributed to the lower part of the gluteus 

 maximus and the hamstring muscles, one branch commonly running upwards 

 beneath the gluteus maximus to anastomose with the external circumflex, internal 

 circumflex, and sciatic arteries, forming the crucial anastomosis at the junction 

 of the neck of the femur with the great trochanter (fig. 373). A second branch 

 descends to anastomose with the asctMiding branch of the middle perforating. 



(ii) The middle or second perforating, Avhich is given oflf from the profunda 

 as it lies behind the adductor longus, pierces the adductor brevis, and then passes 

 through a second aponeurotic opening in the adductor magnus a little below that 

 for the first perforating artery, and also close to the linea aspera. It supplies the 

 hamstring muscles, sends a branch upwards to anastomose with the descending 

 branch of the superior perforating, and another downwards to anastomose in like 

 manner with the ascending branch of the third perforating. It usually supplies 

 the chief nutrient branch to the femur. At times, however, this comes from the 

 third ))erforating. 



(iii) Tlie inferior or third perforating also arises from the profunda as it lies 

 under the adductor longus, usually about the level of the lower liorder of the 

 adductor brevis. It turns beneath this border, and then, like the first and second 

 perforating, passes through an aponeurotic opening in the adductor magnus close 

 to the linea aspera. It also supplies the hamstring muscles, and divides into two 

 branches, which anastomose above with the second perforating, and bi^low witli the 

 termination of the profunda or the fourth perforating. 



(iv) The fourth perforating is the continuation of the profunda. It passes 

 through an aponeurotic o])ening in the adductor magnus just above the opening 

 for tlie femoral artery. It anastomoses, above with the third perforating, and below 

 with the superior muscidar and articular branches of the popliteal. It supplies 

 chiefly the short head of the biceps. 



B. Branches of the Superficial Femoral in Scarpa^ s Triangle 



The branches given off by the superficial finnoral in Scarpa's triangle are usually 

 small and insignificant. They are: — ( 1 ) Muscular, to the sartorius and rectus; and 

 (2) saphenous, to the region of the long sajihenous vi'in and femoral lymphatics 

 in the neighbourhood of the vein. 



C. Branches of the Superficial Femoral in Hunter'' s Canal 



The branches in Hunter's canal are:— (1) Muscular: and (2) the anastomotica 

 magna. 



(1 ) The muscular branches sujiply the sartorius. the rectus, the vastus internus, 

 the crureus, and the adiluctor muscles.' They are usually larger than the mu.scular 

 branches given off in Scarpa's triangle. 



(2) The anastomotica magna arises from tlie front an<l inner side of the 



