PELVIC LIMB. 



It is convenient to begin the dissection of the pelvic limb with the 

 examination of the structures on the medial aspect of the thigh ; but 

 if the subject is a male, the dissector of the limb cannot start his work 

 until the external genital organs have been examined by the dissectors 

 of the abdomen. 



Comparatively little of the anatomy of the inner aspect of the thigh 

 can be determined before reflexion of the skin. The position of the 

 saphenous vein may be visible, but only if it happens to be filled with 

 blood. If it is possible to follow the vein with the eye, it will be 

 noted that it disappears before actually reaching the groin. Palpation 

 at the point of disappearance discloses a groove formed by the adjacent 

 margins of two muscles, the gracilis and sartorius ; and deep palpation 

 of the groove should permit the dissector to determine the presence of 

 the deep inguinal lymph glands. 



Dissection. — In the male an incision should be made from the proximal 

 third of the leg to the incision already made by those who have dissected 

 the external genital organs. In the female a second incision along the 

 line of the pelvic symphysis will be necessary. It must be remembered 

 that the skin of this region is thin, and that, therefore, the incisions 

 must not be deep. Two triangular flaps of skin are now turned aside 

 from the underlying structures. 



The dissector must now isolate the saphenous vein, artery, and nerve 

 and demonstrate the fascia of the region and its connection with the 

 wall of the abdomen. The surface of the gracilis and sartorius must 

 then be cleaned. 



A. saphena: V. saphena: N. SAPHENUS. — The saphenous 1 artery, 

 vein, and nerve appear from the narrow cleft between the gracilis and 

 sartorius muscles, and run down the medial surface of the thigh into 

 the lee, where their subsequent course will be followed in a later 

 dissection. 



The artery lies in front of the vein, and, at the point where they 

 first become superficial, the nerve is in front of the artery. Before its 



1 Haphena [L.], o-a</»/v?/s (saphenes) [Or.], manifest ; from the prominence of the 

 vein in the living animal. 



