190 INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



Arteria Femoralis (O.T. Femoral Artery, Common and 

 Superficial). The femoral artery, the great arterial trunk 

 of the inferior extremity, is the direct continuation of the 

 external iliac. It begins at the inguinal ligament, behind 

 which it enters the thigh, and it extends distally to the open- 

 ing- in the adductor magnus, through which it gains the 

 fossa poplitea and becomes the popliteal artery. This opening 

 is situated in the distal third of the medial region of the 

 thigh, and the course which the vessel pursues may be marked 

 on the surface, when the thigh is slightly abducted and rotated 

 laterally, by an oblique line drawn from a point midway between 

 the anterior superior iliac spine and the symphysis pubis to 

 the medial condyle of the femur. 



The relations which the artery bears to the femur are im- 

 portant. As it enters the femoral triangle it passes from the 

 brim of the pelvis and comes to lie in front of the medial part 

 of the head of the femur, from which it is separated by the 

 psoas muscle. Although its relation to the bone is tolerably 

 intimate, this situation should not be chosen for applying 

 compression. On account of the mobility of the head of the 

 bone there is a liability for the vessel to slip from under the 

 fingers. It is much safer to compress it against the brim of 

 the pelvis. Below the head of the femur, during the re- 

 mainder of its course through the femoral triangle, the artery is 

 not in direct relation to the bone. It crosses anterior to the 

 angular interval between the neck and body of the femur. 

 Towards the apex of the space, however, it comes into 

 relation with the medial side of the body of the femur, and 

 this position it holds to its termination. 



In the present condition of the dissection it is only that 

 part of the femoral artery which traverses the femoral triangle 

 which comes under the notice of the dissector. The length of 

 this part varies with the development of the sartorius muscle, 

 and the degree of obliquity with which this crosses the front 

 of the thigh. It measures from three to four inches in 

 length, and is comparatively superficial throughout its entire 

 course. At the apex of the triangle the femoral artery 

 disappears under cover of the sartorius and takes up a 

 deeper position in the limb. 



In the femoral triangle the femoral artery is enveloped in its 

 proximal part by the femoral sheath, and is separated from the 

 surface by the skin, superficial fascia, and deep fascia, whilst 



