Theorem 59.68.1 (The Fundamental Exact Sequence). There is a short exact sequence of étale sheaves on X
Proof. Let \varphi : U \to X be an étale morphism. Then by properties of étale morphisms (Proposition 59.26.2), U = \coprod _ i U_ i where each U_ i is a smooth curve mapping to X. The above sequence for U is a product of the corresponding sequences for each U_ i, so it suffices to treat the case where U is connected, hence irreducible. In this case, there is a well known exact sequence
This amounts to a sequence
which, unfolding definitions, is nothing but a sequence
This defines the maps in the Fundamental Exact Sequence and shows it is exact except possibly at the last step. To see surjectivity, let us recall that if U is a nonsingular curve and D is a divisor on U, then there exists a Zariski open covering \{ U_ j \to U\} of U such that D|_{U_ j} = \text{div}(f_ j) for some f_ j \in k(U)^*. \square
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