256 THE MYOLOGY OF THE KAVEN. 



of the intricate system above laid before us in the foot ; 

 and the most exquisite examples of adaptation, compact- 

 ness, and final requirements are to be seen throughout 

 the structure on every hand. 



" The^exor brevis hallucis is an exceedingly interest- 

 ing little muscle. It arises from the side and the lower 

 margin of the inner aspect of the hypotarsus of the 

 tarso-metatarsus, and from some of the shaft of this 

 bone immediately below. The fibres converge to termi- 

 nate in a small tendon, which, passing down the postero- 

 internal aspect of the shaft, goes to the inner side of the 

 basal joint of the hallux, about which it winds, to finally 

 become inserted on its under side, at the proximal ex- 

 tremity of this joint, just a little beyond its articulation 

 with the tarso-metatarsal trochlea. 



" Thus it will be seen that this little muscle is entirely 

 devoted to assist in flexing the hallux. Its mesial fibres 

 meet those of the muscle next to be described, down the 

 mid-longitudinal line of the shaft of the bone which 

 gives it origin. 



" Equally engaging with the last is another still smaller 

 muscle, the extensor brevis annularis, on the opposite 

 side of the same bone. Here we find its origin is much 

 the same as the flexor brevis hallucis, coming off from 

 the external aspect of the hypotarsus and the shaft below. 

 It soon terminates in an extremely delicate little tendon, 

 which, passing directly down to the fourth or reversed 

 toe, becomes inserted on the supero-inner aspect of the 

 basal phalanx of this digit. 



" By its contraction it will act as a direct extensor of 

 this toe, a requirement no doubt made necessary through 

 the feeble manner in which this digit is now served by 

 the slip which goes to it from the common extensor of 

 these phalanges. 



