296 The Nerves and Muscles of the Leg 
In another instance it sent a branch to aid in the supply of the con- 
tiguous sides of the 2d and 3d toes and in three instances it formed the 
chief source of supply for the contiguous sides of the 1st and 2d, and 
2d and 3d toes. 
In two instances, as we have seen above, the n. cutaneus dorsalis 
medialis arose in the leg from the n. peroneus profundus. In five in- 
stances the n. cutaneus dorsalis medialis arose from the peroneal nerve 
soon after this passed beneath the head of the peroneus longus muscle. 
The nerve then took a course somewhat independent of that of the n. 
cutaneus dorsalis intermedialis. 
The very great variation found in the distribution of the nerves of 
the dorsum of the foot seems not to be associated with such factors as 
age, sex, race, side of body or relative position of the lumbo-sacral 
plexus. Rough estimation of these factors have given so little promise 
of positive results that I omit here a detailed tabulation. 
For the sake of comparison the following data obtained by the Commit- 
tee of Collective Investigation of Great Britain and Ireland’ are appended. 
Our results agree with regard to the condition most frequently observed, 
although I found this condition in but 40% of the feet examined while 
the committee found it in 55%. In those instances in which the n. 
cutaneus dorsalis lateralis served wholly or in part to supply the con- 
tiguous sides of the 3d and 4th, and 4th and 5th toes, although the total 
frequency is approximately the same there is considerable difference in 
frequency in variation in the nature of the relations between the n. cuta- 
neus dorsalis intermedialis and lateralis. 
4, Cutaneous Branches of the Tibial Nerve. 
The nearly constant origin of the chief root of the n. suralis from the 
tibial nerve and the account of it which I have given above in treating 
of the cutaneous branches of the peroneal nerve render further descrip- 
tion here unnecessary. ‘The rami calcanei mediales vary somewhat in 
extent of distribution but offer no features of special interest. The 
cutaneous supply of the toes is singularly constant, the main variation 
being found in the extent of development of a branch from the n. 
plantaris medialis to the nerve supplying the 4th and 5th toes, or from 
the n. plantaris lateralis to the nerve supplying the 3d and 4th toes. 
In 69 out of 87 instances no well developed branch of this nature 
Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, Vo. 26, 1892, p. 89. 
