Dissection of the Anterior Thigh

Clean and separate the muscles of the adductor compartment including the gracilis (1) and adductor longus (2). The sartorius muscle (3) is labeled for orientation. Inferiorly, the tendon of the gracilis, sartorius and semitendinosus have common insertions on the medial tibia forming the pes anserinus (goose's foot). Find the anterior and posterior divisions of the obturator nerve on either side of the adductor brevis muscle. Look for the femoral artery piercing the adductor hiatus and the perforating arteries (from the profunda femoris) piercing the adductor magnus. Expose the obturator externus muscle deep and between the pectineus and adductor longus muscles. Attempt to find the anterior and posterior branches of the obturator artery.