THE EXTERNAL PLANTAR ARTERY. 



467 



anastomose with the dorsal arteries ; and (d) others which appear in the furrow 

 between the middle and outer divisions of the plantar fascia. 



B. I'')V»i the plantar arch are given ofE the following more important branches. 



(fl) The jwstei'inr 2JC7fo)-at ill r/ branches, three in number, pass upwards through 

 the back part of the three outer interosseous spaces, between the heads of the 

 dorsal interosseous muscles, and on reaching the dorsum of the foot inosculate 

 with the interosseous branches of the metatarsal artery. 



Fi-T. 209. 



Fig. 299. — Deep view of the Arteries in the Sole 

 OF THE lliGHT FooT (from Ticdemann ) . g 



All the muscles have been removed, a, the calcaneal 

 tuberosity ; 6, the scaphoid bone and end of the calcaneo- 

 scaphoid ligament ; c, to a, calcaneo-cuboid ligament ; 

 d, its deep part ; e, scaphoido-cuneiform ligament ; /, 

 one of the sesamoid bones of the great toe ; 1, posterior 

 tibial artery dividing into the plantar arteries ; 2, 2', 

 external plantar artery ; 2', 2", deep plantar arch termi- 

 nating by communication with the dorsal artery of the 

 foot ; 3, 3', internal plantar artery ; 3", its communica- 

 tion with the internal digital of the great toe ; 4, 

 branches of the internal plantar to the inside of the foot ; 

 5, 5', first digital or external plantar branch of the fifth 

 toe ; C, second plantar digital artery ; 6', interval of the 

 division of the same between the fourth and fifth toes ; 

 7, third plantar digital ; 7', its distribution to the third 

 and fourth toes ; 8, fourth plantar digital ; 8', its dis- 

 tribution to the second and third toes ; 9, fifth plantar 

 digital ; 9', its distribution to the first and second toes ; 

 10, internal plantar digital branch of the great toe ; 

 at the upper numbers, 6, 7, and 8, the posterior per- 

 forating branches of the interosseous arteries are par 

 tially indicated ; at 2", the large communication between 

 the plantar arch and the dorsalis pedis artery ; above 

 6', 7', and S', are situated the anterior perforating 

 arteries, not represented in the figure; 11, and 12, 

 calcaneal bi-anches of the plantar and posterior peroneal 

 arteries. 



(J) The ^//./-/(YrtZ branches are four in number. The 

 firitt digital branch inclines outwards from the outer- 

 most part of the plantar arch, opposite the end of the fourth metatarsal space, 

 crosses under cover of the abductor minimi digiti, and runs along the outer 

 border of the phalanges of the little toe. The t<cco)id digital branch passes for- 

 wards along the fourth metatarsal space, and near the cleft between the fourth 

 and fifth toes divides into two vessels, which course along the contiguous 

 borders of those toes, and end on the last phalanges. The third, digital branch 

 is similarly disposed of on the fourth and third toes. The fourth ends in like 

 manner on the thii'd and second toes. 



The digital artery which supplies the opposed sides of the first and second toes, 

 and that which runs on the inner side of the first toe. arise deeply between the 

 first and second metatarsal bones, usually from that part of the arch which is 

 fonned by the end of the dorsal arteiy of the foot. 



Thus, as in the fingers, collateral arteries pass along the sides of the flexor 

 .sui'face of each of the toes. Near the base of the last phalanx these inosculate 

 so as to foiin an arch, from the convexity of which minute vessels pass forwai'ds. 

 to the extremity of the toe, and to the matrix of the nail. 



{c) An anterior perforatim} branch is sent upwards by each of the digital 

 arteries of the thi-ee outer interspaces near its bifui-cation, to communicate with 

 the corresponding digital branch of the metatai'sal artery of the dorsum of the 

 foot. 



Varieties. — The posterior perforating branches, which are usually very small 



H H 2 



