470 



AETEPJES OF THE LOWEK LIME. 



It inclines forwards and outwards upon the tarsal bones covered by the 

 short extensor muscle of the toes, th.en curving backwards towards the 

 cuboid bone, divides into branches which take 

 ^o " "' dilterent directions over the tarsus. 



Fig. 301. AXTEKIOR VIEW OP THE AkTERIES OP THE 



Leg and Doksum of the Foot (from Tiedemann). 5 



The tibialis anticus muscle is drawn towards the inner 

 side so as to bring the anterior tibial artery into view, 

 llie extensor proprius ijollicis, the long conimon extensor 

 (if the toes, and the peroneus tertius muscles in their 

 lower i^art, and the whole of the extensor communis 

 brevis, have been removed. 1, external superior articular 

 branch of the poiDliteal artery, ramifying on the parts 

 surrounding the knee ; and anastomosing with the other 

 articular branches, and with 2, the recurrent branch of 

 the anterior tibial artery ; 3, 3, anterior tibial, giving 

 off muscular branches on each side ; 4, dorsal artery 

 of the foot ; 5, external anterior malleolar artery coming 

 off from the anterior tibial and anastomosing with the 

 anterior peroneal artery which is seen descending upon 

 the lower part of the fibula ; the internal malleolar is 

 represented proceeding from the other side of the anterior 

 tibial artery ; 6, the tarsal branch of the dorsal artery, 

 represented in this instance as larger than usual and 

 furnishing some of the branches of the next artery ; 7, 

 the metatarsal branch, giving off the dorsal interosseous 

 arteries ; (in the first interosseous space the dorsal artery 

 of the foot is seen to give off the anastomosing branch 

 which unites with the deep i^lantar arch ;) between 8 

 and 8, the collateral branches of the dorsal digital 

 arteries. 



Its branches supply the extensor brevis 

 digitorum muscle and the tarsal joints, and 

 anastomose with the external plantar, the 

 metatarsal, the external malleolar, and the 

 peroneal arteries. 



{h) The metatarsal artery arises farther 

 forwards than the preceding vessel, and is 

 directed outwards like it, beneath the short 

 extensor muscle. Sometimes there are two 

 metatarsal arteries, the second being of smaller 

 size ; and not unfrequently, when there is but 

 a single vessel of this name, it arises in com- 

 mon with the tarsal artery. Its direction is 

 necessarily influenced by these circumstances ; 

 being oblique when it arises far back, and 

 almost transverse when its origin is situated 

 larther forwards than usual. It anastomoses 

 with the tarsal and external plantar arteries, 

 and gives off" interosseous branches. 



The three i?it/-ro.s.<<coiix branches axe small straight 

 vessels which pass forwards along the three outer 

 interosseous spaces, resting upon the dorsal inter- 

 osseous muscles. Somewhat behind the clefts be- 

 tween the toes each divides into two branches, which run forward along the 

 contip-uous borders of the con-esponding toes, forming their dorsal collateral 



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