-33 



MUSCLES OF THE LOWER LLMB. 



transverse fibres fire snperadclccl, wliicli biucl the processes together, 

 uiid connect them closely with the skin, JSTear the articulation of the 

 tecs with the metatarsal bones, each of the five processes divides, to 

 permit the passauo of the flexor tendons ; and the two bundles of fibres 

 resulting from the division of each process, after strengthening the 

 slicath of the tendons over which tlicy pass, are attached to the sides of 

 the metatarsal bone, and are blended with the transverse ligament 

 uniting those bones. From the point of splitting of each process, as in 

 tlie hand, fibrous bands are continued forwards to the skin in the 

 divisions between the toes. 



The two intermuscular sepia Avhicli lie. between the middle and 

 lateral portions of the plantar fascia pass deeply into the sole of the 

 foot ; they separate the flexor brevis digitorum from the abductor 

 pollicis on the inner side, and from the abductor minimi digiti on the 

 outer side, and give partial origin to each of these muscles. 



In the sole of the foot as in the palm of the hand there is a band 

 of transverse fibres across the roots of the digits, placed immediately 

 beneath the skin, and connected with the subjacent sheaths of the 

 tendons. The digital nerves and vessels are covered by this structure, 

 which receives the name of transverse ligament of the toes. 



Short PlanTxVR Muscles. — These muscles may most conveniently 

 be described in layers, as they are found in the course of a dissection. 

 The first, or superficial layer includes the common flexor of the toes, 

 and the abductors of the great and little toes. The second layer consists 

 of the flexor accessorius and the lumbricales, the third layer of the deep 

 plantar muscles of the great and little toes, and the fourth layer of the 

 dorsal and plantar interossei. 



Fig. lOS. 



Fi" 



198. — First Layer op PiiANTAR Muscles, as seen ok 



THE REMOVAL OF THE PlANTAR FaSCIA. j 



1, abductor pollicis ; 2, flexor brevis digitomm ; on tlio 

 second toe the slieath is opened so as to show the tendon of 

 tlie flexor brevis perforated by that of the flexor longus ; on 

 the other toes the transverse and oblique crossing fibres of the 

 sheath are shown ; 3, strongest portion of the plantar 

 aponeurosis left upon the surface of the flexor brevis, ncai'tho 

 OS calcis ; 4, abdxictor minimi digiti ; 5, the lumbricales 

 muscles ; G, tendon of the flexor longus hallucis muscle. 



First layer of jMuscles. — The flexor l>revis 

 digitorum, or flexor parforattis, arises by a 

 small pointed and tendinous attachment from the 

 inner part of the greater tuberosity of the cal- 

 caneum, from the deep surface of the plantar 

 fascia for about two inches forwards, and from 

 the intermuscular septum on each side. The 

 muscle terminates in four slender tendons, in- 

 serted into the second ])halanx of each of the four 

 outer toes. Each tendon ])rior to its insertion 

 divides and gives passage between its i)arts to the 

 tendon of the long flexor, in a manner precisely 



similar to the arrangement of the tendons of the flexor sublimis and 



flexor profundus muscles of the hand. 



Relations. — TMs muscle lies between the abductor pollicis and abductor minimi 



