DISSECTION. 143 



the muscles on the cephalic side (upper side in the present posture). 

 The femoral vessels are just entad of the skin and connective tissue, 

 and parallel with the femur in the proximal third of the meros. 

 To expose the vessels, lift a triangular flap of skin (Fig. 39). 



§ 354. Parting the Hair. — Before making the incisions, wet the 

 hair well with a sponge, and with a comb part it along the lines 

 where the incisions are to be made. Incisions can be very much 

 more neatly and easily made after the skin is thus exposed. 



Fig. 39. — Preparation. — The arteries were injected caudad from the aorta abdominalis 

 (§ 101) ; then the veins were injected from the V. poplitsea in the popliteal space, in the 

 concavity of the knee (Fig 30). After half an hour the triangular flap of skin was dis- 

 sected free and turned to the left and secured by a pin passing through its tip into the 

 muscles of the left meros. All the fat and connective tissue were then removed with the 

 tracer, fine forceps and scissors. 



A. (Arteria) femoralis — Femoral artery. — This is the continuation of the A. iliaca 

 externa (§ 101). It is between the vein and nerve. 



Ann. abd. ext. Annulus abdominalis exterior s. ectalis — External (ectal) ingui- 

 nal ring. — This is the ectal opening of the inguinal canal through which the chorda sper- 

 malica passes into the abdominal cavity. 



C. sp. Chorda spermatica — Spermatic cord. — This is a bundle of structures passing 

 from the testis to the abdominal cavity. It is composed mainly of the spermatic artery 

 and vein and the vas deferens. 



Lg. P. Ligamentum Poupartii (Poupart's ligament. Crural arch). — This is a liga- 

 mentous or aponeurotic arch dorsad of which pass the femoral vessels. 



N. (Nervus) cruralis anterior (Anterior crural nerve). — This is the largest branch 

 of the lumbar plexus of nerves. It is both muscular and cutaneous in distribution. 

 Quain, A, I, 604. 



Scarpa's Triangle. — This is the triangular depression on the cephalic side of the 

 meros in which the femoral vessels are found. Quain, A, I, 454 ; Gray, A, 546. 



V. (Vena) femoralis — Femoral vein. — The femoral vein is continued by the V. iliaca 

 communis as it passes into the abdomen. It is caudad of the artery as the two pass dorsad 

 of the Ligamentum Poupartii, but ventrad of it in the meros. 



§ 355. Dissection. — With the tracer and fiiie forceps, very care- 

 fully dissect the artery free from the vein, nerve and connective tis- 

 sue for about 2 cm. from the abdominal wall. Be very careful not 

 to stretch the artery. It seems only about half the diameter of the 

 vein. 



§ 356. Incisions in the Vessel. — When the artery is free, put 

 the handle of a scalpel wet in 15 per cent, glycerin entad of it (Fig. 

 40) ; with a Charriere scalpel then make a V-sTiaped incision that 

 will include about one third the width of the vessel as it is flattened 

 on the scalpel handle. Cut entirely through to the scalpel handle 

 on which the vessel rests. The Charriere should be held pen-like 

 (Fig. 63), and so that the apex of the V (Fig. 40) shall point periph- 



