THE VASCULAR SYSTEM 



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passing obliquely to the caudal side of the knee-joint, where it 

 divides into two branches (Fig. 81), one extending along the 

 cranial, the other along the caudal aspect of the crus. The 

 cat, or at least the caudal half of a cat, should be fastened to the 

 dissecting tray on its back, the abdominal wall removed, and 

 the viscera pushed laterad to demonstrate the origin of the 

 artery of this limb. As in the forelimb, the main artery in 

 different portions of the leg takes the name of the corresponding 

 region. 



Fig. 81. — Arteries of the Right Leg. Ventral Aspect. 

 a. Aorta; at, anterior tibial; af, anterior femoral; cd, caudal; eg, epigastric; 

 em, external malleolar; fem, femoral; itn, internal malleolar; il, external iliac; 

 it, internal iliac; hi, iliolumbar; m, digital; n, digital; o, digital; p, peroneal; 

 pa, profunda; pf, posterior superior femoral; pi, posterior inferior femoral; pn, 

 plantar; pp, popliteal; pt, posterior tibial; ps, saphenous. 



The external iliac is the largest artery arising from the aorta 

 in the lumbar region. It gives off but one important branch, 

 the deep artery of the thigh (A. profunda femoris), which, 

 extending caudad soon gives off three branches a large inferior 

 epigastric artery to the abdominal wall, a branch to the 



