The Posterior Limb. 225 



surface of the leg. The femoral artery passes between the adductores 

 longus and magnus, continuing as the popliteal artery (a. 

 poplitea) . 



The hypogastric artery (p. 203) appears in the greater sciatic 

 notch, continuing thence as the sciatic artery (a. ischiadica). 

 The vessel passes backward to the dorsal surface of the superior 

 ramus of the ischium, where it divides into lateral caudal and 

 internal pudendal branches. Its smaller branches are dis- 

 tributed to the glutaei and biceps femoris muscles. 



**The femoral vein (v. femoralis) traverses the medial surface 

 of the thigh in company with the femoral artery. It begins at the 

 proximal end of the lower third of the thigh as a continuation of the 

 popliteal vein (v. poplitea), which accompanies the corres- 

 ponding artery. Its tributaries comprise the great saphenous, 

 superficial epigastric, lateral circumflex, and profunda 

 femoris veins. 



The sciatic vein (v. ischiadica) traverses the lateral surface of 

 the thigh near its posterior margin, lying at first between the biceps 

 and semimembranosus and afterwards on the posterior margin 

 of the former. At the dorsal border of the ischium, in front of the 

 ischial tuberosity, it receives the lateral caudal and internal 

 pudendal veins. 



***The femoral nerve (n. femoralis) arises from the lumbo- 

 sacral plexus, chiefly from the fifth lumbar. Its position between 

 the psoas major and iliacus muscles has already been noted (p. 218). 

 Immediately beyond the inguinal ligament it divides into two 

 portions, one of which is distributed to the muscles of the anterior 

 side of the thigh, while the other, the greater saphenous nerve 

 (n, saphenus major), passes to the medial surface of the thigh and 

 leg in company first with the femoral artery and afterwards with 

 the great saphenous artery. 



The sciatic nerve (n. ischiadicus) , formed chiefly from the 

 seventh lumbar and first sacral nerves, appears laterally in the 

 greater sciatic notch. It passes backward beneath the piriformis 

 muscle, and then turns distad to the thigh, where it lies on the 

 lateral surfaces of the adductores magnus and longus. It dis- 

 tributes branches to the posterior musculature of the thigh. In 

 the proximal portion of the thigh it divides into two chief branches, 

 which are closely associated as far as the knee. The anterior 



