362 The Nerves and Muscles of the Leg 
Proximal branch to soleus—Out of 35 instances in 20 this branch 
arose independently, in 14 it arose in conjunction with the nerve to the 
lateral head of the gastrocnemius, and in one in conjunction with the 
nerve to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius and the nerve to the 
plantaris. 
The above nerves form a group, the trunks of which may be more or 
Jess united with one another, but not with those of the following set. 
Nerve to the popliteus.—This nerve arose independently in 15 out of 
26 instances. In 10 instances it arose in conjunction with the nerve to 
the tibialis posterior and in one, with the distal nerve to the soleus and 
the nerve to the tibialis posterior. In two instances a secondary branch 
entered the superior edge of the muscle. 
Halbertsma, 47, described a nerve which arises in the popliteal space, 
gives rami to the popliteus and posterior tibial muscles, and is continued 
distally, partly in the substance of the interosseous membrane, to the inferior 
tibio-fibular articulation. It gives branches to the superior tibio-fibular 
articulation, to the tibia and the interosseous membrane. When the nerves 
to the popliteus and tibialis posterior arise separately this nerve is continued 
distally either from nerve to the popliteus or, more rarely, from that to the 
tibialis posterior. McMurrich, o4, considers this branch to represent the 
important ramus profundus of amphibia and reptiles. This supplies the deep 
muscles of the plantar surface of the crus and is continued into the foot as 
the internal plantar nerve. In the lower mammals it ends at the ankle. In 
man another nerve arises from the nerve to the deep muscles and passes 
distally along the course of the peroneal vessels to the ankle. It gives 
branches to the shaft of the fibula and the medullary artery.” 
Nerve to the tibialis posterior—Out of 38 instances in 20 the nerve 
arose independently, in 5 it arose in conjunction with the nerve to the 
popliteus. In 5 instances it arose in two branches, one of which in each 
instance was associated with the nerve to the popliteus while the other 
in one instance was independent, in one was associated with the nerve’ 
to the flexor digitorum longus and in three with the distal nerve to the 
soleus muscle. In 4 instances the nerve to the tibialis posterior was 
associated with the distal branch to the soleus, in 3 with the nerves to 
the flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus muscles, and in 
one instance with the distal nerve to the soleus and with the nerve to 
the flexor digitorum and flexor hallucis. 
Distal nerve to the soleus—Out of 37 instances, in 20 this nerve arose 
independently. In 7 it arose in conjunction with a nerve to the posterior 
tibial muscle; in 4, in conjunction with one to the flexor digitorum longus 
** Rauber, cited by G. D. Thane, Quain’s Anatomy, 10th ed. 
