THE MUSCLES 115 



Flexor longus (41) Carus (1828). 



Oberflachlicher Beuger Meckel (1828). 



Flexor longus digitorum pedis . , . . Rymer Jones (1852). 



Flexor quatuor digitorum communis longus, and flexor hallucis proprius 



Schmidt, Goddard, and van d. Hoeven (1864). 



Flexor digitorum Mivart (1869). 



Femoro-fibulae-digiti I-V .... Hoffmann (1873-8). 



This muscle differs somewhat from its counterpart in the anterior 

 limb, since instead of taking its origin entirely from the lateral con- 

 dyle of the proximal bone of the limb — the epicond. lat.jemoris — the 

 greater portion of it arises from the distal joint of the limb, viz. from 

 the lateral face of the fibula. The direction of the fibres is approxi- 

 mately parallel with the axis of the limb. In the region of the tarsus 

 the muscle passes into a strong, broad aponeurosis spreading over 

 the sole of the foot — the fascia planiaris (fas.pl.) (Eisler). This fascia 

 divides up into five strong tendons which pass along the flexor side 

 of the digits and are inserted in the proximal end of the terminal 

 phalanx of each toe. Where the toe possesses more than one phalanx 

 the tendon is strapped down to the sides of the proximal end of each 

 by means of small lateral slips. The. fascia plantaris is thus equivalent 

 to the palmar fascia of the hand. It is joined on its ventral — super- 

 ficial — side by the tendon of the M. ischio-fiexorius, while on the 

 dorsal — deep — face the MM. flexorius accessorius medialis and late- 

 ralis are inserted, and the MM. fiexores breves superficiales originate. 

 It should be noticed that the fibres on the fibular side of the leg are 

 necessarily very short, while those on the tibial side pass along the 

 whole length of the leg. 



Both Eisler and McMurrich distinguish from the above de- 

 scribed major portion of the muscle a small slip which they respec- 

 tively call Plantaris superficialis minor and Profundus III minor. This 

 portion is relatively quite small and arises from the ventro-mesial 

 edge of the fibula immediately proximal to the origin of the M. 

 caput longum musculorum contrahentium. It passes somewhat 

 obliquely to fuse with the major portion on its tibial border. Ribbing, 

 probably more correctly, regards it as a portion of the M. flexor 

 accessorius medialis (see p. 116). 



Innervation: Both portions are supplied by the main branch of 

 N. fibularis, and by its R. medianus. 



Function: It mainly serves to flex the digits and the tarsus, but, 

 owing to its origin spreading along the whole length of the fibula and 

 the inequality in the length of the fibres on the fibular and tibial 

 sides of the limb, the contraction of the muscle must also tend to 



