248 THE MYOLOGY OF THE EAVEN. 



in a powerful and flattened tendon, which passes, 

 nearly in the median line, through the tibial cartilage, 

 deep to all the other flexors. In traversing the hypo- 

 tarsal prominence it selects the large outer canal next 

 to the shaft; and in emerging from it, its tendon, in 

 passing down the back of the shaft of the tarso-meta- 

 tarsus, is nearest the bone. It also develops in it, in 

 this locality, a strong osseous rod, just below which 

 its trifurcation takes place. Each division as it leaves 

 the main trunk in the sole of the foot, proceeds directly 

 to one of the anterior toes, to pass its entire length 

 along its palmar aspect. In eff"ccting this, it lies close 

 to the several joints, and perforates the other flexor 

 tendons in a manner already described. Arriving at the 

 ungual phalanges, in each case, the tendon attaches 

 itself to the proximal tubercle at the l)ase upon its 

 under side. These several tendons are also held in 

 position by strong fasciae which bind them to the under 

 side of the toes ; and these must be slit up with our 

 scalpel before they are exposed. 



This muscle, as may be seen both from its origin 

 and insertion, is the most powerful of all the " flexors 

 of the toes ; the others being, more correctly sj^eaking, 

 simply auxiliaries to its action. 



After the integuments have been removed, the form 

 of the leg is quite conical, being, however, somewhat 

 compressed laterally, while its base may be said to be 

 at the knee-joint, and its apex at the condyles of the 

 tibia. 



All the flexors we have described above are more 

 or less intimately connected together by binding fascia, 

 and this applies also, to a great extent, to the group 

 of muscles upon the anterior aspect of this division of 

 the pelvic limb ; while the whole seems to be enveloj)ed 



