4G6 



AETEEIES OF THE LOWER LBIB. 



diminislied in size, it terminates by running? along the inner border of 

 the great toe, anastomosing with the digital branches. 



Ficr. 29S. 



Fig. 298. — SCPERFICIAL A'lEW OF THE ArTERIES IN 



THE Sole op the Eight Foot (from Tiedemanu). g 



a, tuberosity of the calcaneum close to the origin of 

 the flexor brevis digitorum (cut sliort) and tlie ab- 

 ductor pollicis, of which a part is removed, to show 

 the plantar arteries ; h, abductor pollicis ; c, abductor 

 minimi digiti ; d, tendon of the flexor pollicis longus ; 

 c, tendon of the flexor communis longus ; e', its four 

 slips, close to the lumliricales muscles, passing on to 

 perforate the tendons of the flexor brevis ; /, flexor 

 accessorius ; [j, flexor brevis minimi digiti : 1, posterior 

 tibial dividing into the jilantar arteries ; 2, 2', external 

 plantar ; 3, intei-nal plantar ; 3', the same passing for- 

 ward to communicate with 4, the digital branch for the 

 great toe, derived from the dorsal artery of the foot ; 5, 

 first digital or external plantar branch to the fifth toe ; 6, 

 placed in the angle of division of the second plantar 

 digital artery, between the fourth and fifth toes ; 7, the 

 third plantar digital artery dividing similarly between 

 the third and fourth toes ; 8 , the fourth plantar digital 

 artery dividing similarly between the second and third 

 toes ; 9, the plantar digital artery dividing similarly 

 between the first and second toes ; 10, internal plantai' 

 artery of the great toe ; 11, calcaneal branches of the 

 jjlantar arteries, anastomosing with 12, the calcaneal 

 branches of the posterior peroneal artery. 



Branches. — The internal plantar artery gives off 

 numerous small twigs, which may be distinguished 

 in sets as follows : — (re) muscular branches to 

 the abductor iioUicis and flexor brevis digitorum ; 

 Qi) offsets which incline towards the inner border of the foot, and communi- 

 cate with Inanches of the dorsal arteries ; and (r) cutaneous offsets which 

 appear in the furrow between the middle and inner iDortions of the plantar 

 fascia. 



The external plantar artery, of considerable size, at first inclines 

 outwards and then forwards, to reach the base of the fifth metatarsal 

 bone : it then turns obliquely inwards across the foot, to gain the 

 interval between the bases of the first and second metatarsal bones, 

 where it joins, by a communicating branch, with the dorsal artery of 

 the foot ; and thus is completed the plan/ar arch, the convexity of which 

 is turned forward. At first the artery is placed, together with the 

 external ])lantar nerve, between the calcaneum and the abductor pol- 

 licis; fuj-tlier on it lies between the flexor brevis digitorum and flexor 

 accessorius. As it turns forwards it lies in the interval between the 

 short flexor cif the toes and the abductor of the little toe, being placed 

 along the line sejiarating the middle from the external portion of the 

 plantar i'ascia, and covered by that membrane. The remainder of the 

 artery, wliich turns inwards and forms the plantar arch, is placed deeply 

 against the interosseous muscles, and is covered by the flexors of the 

 toes and the Inmljricales muscles. 



Brandies. — A. J/i /7,v ronr.'ic to fJie ffih metacarpal hone the external plantar 

 artery gives off {a) branches to the skin of the heel ; (i) numerous muscular 

 Ibranches ; {c) small offsets which lom outwai'ds over the border of the foot, and 



