196 INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



medialis and proceeds distally, anterior to the tendon of the 

 adductor magnus. It gives some twigs to the vastus medialis 

 and others which spread out over the proximal and medial 

 aspects of the knee-joint, and it anastomoses with branches of 

 the medial genicular arteries. One well-marked branch runs 

 laterally, proximal to the patella, to anastomose with the 

 lateral superior genicular artery. 



Vena Femoralis (Femoral Vein). This is the direct 

 proximal continuation of the popliteal vein. It begins at the 

 opening in the adductor magnus, through which it enters 

 the adductor canal, whilst proximally it passes behind the 

 inguinal ligament and becomes continuous with the external 

 iliac vein. It accompanies the femoral artery, but the relations 

 of the two vessels to each other differ at different stages of 

 their course. In the distal part of Hunter's canal the vein lies 

 on the lateral and posterior side of the artery, but it inclines 

 medially as it ascends, and in the proximal part of the thigh 

 it lies on its medial side and on the same plane. The cross- 

 ing from one side to the other takes place posterior to the 

 artery and is very gradual, so that for a considerable distance 

 the femoral vein lies directly posterior to the femoral artery. 

 For a distance of two inches distal to the inguinal ligament 

 it is enclosed within the femoral sheath, of which it occupies 

 the intermediate compartment. 



As it ascends in the thigh the femoral vein receives 

 tributaries which, for the most part, correspond with the 

 branches of the femoral artery. At the fossa ovalis it 

 is joined by the great saphenous vein. The dissector 

 should slit the femoral vein open with the scissors. Several 

 valves will then be seen. One is almost invariably found 

 immediately proximal to the entrance of the vein which 

 corresponds to the profunda artery. 



Nervus Femoralis (O.T. Anterior Crural). The femoral 

 nerve is a large nerve which arises, within the abdomen, 

 from the lumbar plexus. It enters the thigh by passing 

 distally in the interval between the psoas and iliacus muscles, 

 posterior to the inguinal ligament and the fascia iliaca. In 

 the proximal part of the thigh it lies to the lateral side of the 

 femoral artery, and is separated from it by a small portion of 

 the psoas muscle and the femoral sheath. A short distance 

 below the inguinal ligament it divides into an anterior and a 

 posterior portion, which at once resolve themselves into a 



