1 68 INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



prominence of the trochanter major of the femur. Above the 

 trochanteric region, and between it and the crista iliaca, is the 

 regio coxa (hip), and below the trochanteric region is the regio 

 femoris lateralis. At the distal end of the anterior part of the 

 thigh is the regio genu anterior. In the centre of the anterior 

 part of the knee lies the patella or knee-cap, the outline of 

 which can be seen as well as felt. When the limb is extended 

 the extensor muscles in the anterior part of the thigh are 

 relaxed and the patella is freely movable. As the /eg is flexed 

 on the femur at the knee the patella passes distally, till it lies 

 in front of the interval between the femur and the tibia, and 

 \hz fades patellaris of the femur can be felt beneath the skin. 

 From the distal end of the patella the lig. patellae should be 

 followed to the tuberosity of the tibia. 



At the distal end of the lateral region of the thigh the 

 outline of the lateral condyle of the femur is easily recognised. 

 Directly below it is the lateral condyle of the tibia, and at the 

 distal and posterior part of the latter the head of the fibula. 

 The tendon which can be traced proximally from the capitulum 

 fibulae, on the border line between the lateral and posterior 

 femoral regions, is the tendon of the biceps femoris, and the 

 dense longitudinal band of fascia immediately anterior to the 

 tendon of the biceps is the tractus ilio-tibialis of the fascia lata 

 a fascial band which is more easily distinguishable in the 

 living than in the dead body. 



At the distal end of the medial part of the thigh is the 

 outline of the medial condyle of the femur which should be 

 palpated, and immediately distal to it the medial condyle of 

 the tibia is easily recognised beneath the integument. The 

 tendons posterior to the medial condyle of the femur, which 

 also are more easily felt in the living than the dead body, are 

 the tendons of the semitendinosus and semirnembranosus 

 muscles, and the less easily palpated tendon of the adductor 

 magnus should be distinguished as it descends to the superior 

 border of the medial femoral condyle. 



The dissector should verify all the above-mentioned points 

 of surface anatomy not only on the dead body but also on the 

 bodies of himself and his friends, and he should examine 

 them repeatedly until he is quite familiar with them both by 

 sight and touch. 



