BACK OF THE THIGH 257 



surface of the transverse ligament and the cushion of fat 

 which occupies the bottom of the cavity. Lastly, it gives a 

 tubular investment to the ligamentum teres. 



Removal of the Limb. The limb may now be removed from the trunk 

 by dividing the ligamentum teres. It should then be taken to one of the 

 tables set aside for the dissection of separate parts. Before proceeding to 

 the dissection of the leg it is advisable to study the attachments of the 

 various muscles to the femur. The bulk of these may be removed, but a 

 small portion of each should be left, so that their connections may again 

 be revised, should it be found necessary to do so at a later period. 



THE LEG. 



Surface Anatomy. The relation of the tibia and fibula 

 to the surface should be carefully investigated. The sharp 

 crista anterior or shin of the tibia does not form a projection 

 visible to the eye, but nevertheless it is subcutaneous, and 

 can be very distinctly felt when the finger is passed along it. 

 It pursues a slightly sinuous course and, in its distal part, 

 becomes rounded-off and indistinct. The broad, flat, medial 

 surface of the body of the tibia is also subcutaneous, 

 distal to the level of the insertion of the sartorius, and the 

 medial border of the bone can be followed by the finger 

 throughout its entire length. The fibula is more deeply 

 placed, and the proximal half of its body cannot be felt 

 from the surface owing to the manner in which it is sur- 

 rounded by muscles. The head of the bone, however, is very 

 evident where it articulates with the lateral and posterior part of 

 the lateral condyle of the tibia. For a short distance above 

 the lateral malleolus the body of the fibula is subcutaneous over 

 a triangular area which is interposed between the peronaeus 

 tertius muscle anteriorly and the peronaeus longus and 

 peronaeus brevis muscles posteriorly. 



The two malleoli form marked projections in the region of 

 the ankle. The medial malleolus is the broader and more 

 prominent of the two ; it does not descend so far distally, 

 but its anterior border is situated more anteriorly than the 

 lateral malleolus. This is due to its greater breadth, because, 

 when examined from behind, the posterior borders of the two 

 projections are seen to occupy very nearly the same plane. 



On the posterior aspect of the leg the prominence known 



VOL. i 17 



