THE LIMBS OF THE HOKSE 



141 



The synovial sheath of the extensor digitorum longus begins slightly 

 above the lateral malleolus, and extends over the tarsus and into the 

 proximal third of the metatarsus. A sheath of very similar extent, but 

 beginning at a rather more proximal point, surrounds the tendon of the 

 peronffius longus as it passes down the groove on the lateral malleolus 

 and obliquely over the tarsus. Since the tendons of the extensor 

 digitorum longus and peronseus longus converge and join, their syno- 



Liganienta pattU >• --^ / 



Lis. collaterale tibiale. _ 



Saphenous vessels and^^ 

 nerve. 



N. tiblalis.- 



Mm. peronreus terthis et 

 extensor digitorum longus. 



Iiliia. 



Lig. collaterale flhulare. 



V.poplitea. 

 -A. poplitea. 



.M. popliteus. 

 .N.peronanis communis. 

 ,M. plantaris, 



,M. biceps femoris. 



M. semitendinosus 



"~ X. cutaneus suriv 

 posterior. 



M. gastrocnemius. 

 Fig. 94. — Section across the Pro.xiraal Part of the Leg at the Level indicated by in Fig. 81. 



vial sheaths necessarily also converge distally ; but there is no union 

 between them. 



A synovial sheath of limited extent surrounds the tendon of the 

 tibialis anterior as it passes between the two limbs of the peron?eus 

 tertius, and a small bursa lies under its medial tendon of insertion. 



N. PERON.^us COMMUNIS. — The origin of the common peroneal nerve 

 from the sciatic, and its course down the thigh in company with the 

 tibial nerve, have already been noted. Its passage between the biceps 

 and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius brings it to a superficial 

 position on a level with the head of the fibula, where it divides into 

 the superficial and deep peroneal nerves. The collateral branches of 



