MEDIAL SIDE OF THE THIGH 215 



Dissection. Divide the femoral vessels, and the femoral nerve, about 

 an inch distal to the inguinal ligament, and having tied them together 

 with twine throw them distally. Now cut through the sartorius and 

 the rectus femoris, about two inches from their origins, and turn them aside. 

 The tendon of the ilio-psoas must next be detached from its insertion and, 

 with the muscle, turned upwards. This will expose the anterior surface of the 

 capsule of the hip-joint. An intervening bursa mucosa will also be displayed. 

 Open this and ascertain its extent by introducing the finger. It facilitates 

 the play of the ilio-psoas upon the front of the hip-joint, and in some 

 cases its cavity will be found to be directly continuous with the cavity of 

 the joint through an aperture in the capsular ligament. The intimate con- 

 nection which exists between the capsule of the hip-joint and the tendon 

 of the glutaeus minimus, the reflected head of the rectus femoris, and the 

 deep layer of the tractus ilio-tibialis, should be noticed. Lastly, turn 

 aside the tensor fascia latte, and carefully clean the anterior aspect of the 

 capsule of the hip-joint. 



At the end of the fifth day the dissector must paint the 

 various parts of the anterior and medial regions of the thigh 

 with preservative solution, replace them in position and fix 

 the skin flaps over them with a few points of suture. 



On the morning of the sixth day after the subject has 

 been brought into the dissecting-room, it is placed upon 

 the table with its face downwards and its thorax and pelvis 

 supported by blocks. In this position it is allowed to 

 remain for five days, and during this time the dissector 

 of the lower extremity has a very extensive dissection to 

 perform. He has to dissect (i) the glutaeal region ; (2) the 

 proximal part of the fossa poplitea \ and (3) the posterior 

 region of the "thigh. With so much work before him, and 

 being limited as to the time in which it must be done, 

 it is necessary that he should apportion the four days at his 

 disposal so as to complete the dissection before the body is 

 turned again. The first two days he should devote to the study 

 of the glutaeal region ; the third ?&& fourth days may be given 

 to the fossa poplitea ; and on the fifth day he should 

 undertake the dissection of the back of the thigh, and 

 revise the work of the four preceding days. 



GLUT/EAL REGION. 



In this region the following are the parts which will be 

 displayed in the course of the dissection : 



1. Superficial fascia. 



2. Cutaneous nerves and blood-vessels. 



3. Deep fascia. 

 I 14 & 



