c.  The  internal  cutaneous  nerves,  two  or  more,  also  branches  of
the  anterior  crural,  perforate  the  fascia,  one  about  the  middle,  ano-
ther about  the  lower  third  of  the  thigh,  and  supply  the  skin  on  the
inner  side.*

By  careful  dissection  we  find  that  these  several  nerves  communi-

*  Besides  these,  there  is  the  small  crural  branch  of  the  genito- crural
nerte  (see  Dissection  of  Abdomen,  §  39,  c),  which  perforates  the  fascia  about
two  inches  below  the  crur.jl  arch.  This  is  seldom  found  except  by  an  ezpe>
rienced  dissector.
MUSCULAB  FASCIA.  429

cate  here  and  there  with  each  other,  and  this  more  especially  over
the  patella.*

15.  Muscular  fascia. — Let  us  now  remove  the  subcutaneous
structure,  in  order  to  examine  the  muscular  fascia,  or  what  is  com-
monly called  the  *'  fascia  lata"  of  the  thigh.  The  general  purpose
of  this  fascia  is  to  clothe  the  muscles  of  the  thigh  collectively,  and
to  form  separate  sheaths  for  each  ;  so  that  it  not  only  packs  them
up  together,  but  maintains  each  in  its  proper  position.  We  shall
see  the  partitions  when  we  come  to  separate  the  muscles :  it  is  suffi-
cient to  mention  at  present  that  a  knowledge  of  them  is  practically
important,  because  they  interfere  with  the  progress  of  deep-seated
matter  towards  the  surface,  and  cause  it  to  burrow  in  this  or  that
direction  according  to  the  part  in  which  it  foims.
The  fascia  is  by  no  means  of  equal  strength  all  round  the  thigh.
