i66 INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



INFERIOR EXTREMITY. 

 THE THIGH. 



ON the morning of the fourth day after the subject has 

 been brought into the dissecting room it is placed upon the 

 table lying upon its back, the pelvis is supported by two 

 blocks, and the inferior extremities are stretched out at full 

 length. In this position it is allowed to remain for five days 

 and during that period the dissector of the inferior extremity 

 has a very extensive dissection to perform. He has to dissect 

 (i) the anterior region of the thigh, including the trigonum 

 femorale and its contents, (2) the medial region of the thigh, in- 

 cluding the adductor canal and its contents. With so much 

 work to be completed, within a limited time, he must appor- 

 tion the five days to the best advantage. During the first day 

 he should dissect the superficial structures of the whole of the 

 anterior and medial aspects of the thigh. During the second 

 and third days he should complete the dissection of the 

 femoral triangle and the anterior region of the thigh, and the 

 remainder of the period should be devoted to the dissec- 

 tion of the medial region. 



Surface Anatomy. Before the skin is reflected the 

 surface markings of the anterior, the lateral, and medial region 

 of the thigh must be examined. 



A faint sulcus at the superior extremity of the anterior 

 region is the boundary line between the inguinal region of the 

 abdomen and the subinguinal region of the thigh. The 

 resistance felt deep to the sulcus is due to the ligamentum 

 inguinale (O.T. Pouparfs Ligament] which is attached, at the 

 lateral and superior end of the sulcus, to the anterior superior 

 iliac spine, and its inferior and medial end to the tubercle of 

 the pubis. From the anterior superior iliac spine the crista 

 iliaca can be traced laterally and dorsally, and from the 

 pubic tubercle the finger should be carried medially, along 

 the pubic crest, to the superior end of the symphysis 

 pubis. Next the finger should be passed downwards, along 

 the front of the symphysis pubis, to the superior margin 

 of the arcus pubis and. thence downwards and dorsally, 

 along the rami of the pubis and ischium, which mark the 

 superior boundary of the medial femoral region, to the tuber 



