ANTERIOR TIBIAL ARTERY. 357 



part of the interosseous membrane, to the anterior tibial region. It 

 then runs down the anterior aspect of the leg to the ankle-joint, where 

 it becomes the dorsalis pedis. 



Relations, In its course downwards it rests upon the interosseous 

 membrane (to which it is connected by a little tendinous arch which is 

 thrown across it), the lower part of the tibia, and the anterior ligament 

 of the joint. In the upper third of its course it is situated between 

 the tibialis anticus and extensor longus digitorum, lower down between 

 the tibialis anticus and extensor proprius pollicis ; and just before it 

 reaches the ankle it is crossed by the tendon of the extensor proprius 

 pollicis, and becomes placed between that tendon and the tendons of 

 the extensor longus digitorum. Its immediate relations are the venae 

 comites and the anterior tibial nerve, which latter lies at first to its 

 outer side, and at about the middle of the leg becomes placed superfici- 

 ally to the artery. 



Plan of the relations of the Anterior Tibial Artery. 



Front. 

 Deep fascia, 

 Tibialis anticus, 

 Extensor longus digitorum, 

 Extensor proprius pollicis, 

 Anterior tibial nerve. 



Inner Side. Outer Side. 



Tibialis anticus, Anterior tibial Anterior tibial nerve, 



Tendon of the artery. Extensor longus digitorum, 



extensor pro- Extensor proprius pollicis, 



prius pollicis. I Tendons of the extensor 



longus digitorum. 

 Behind. 



Interosseous membrane, 

 Tibia (lower fourth), 

 Ankle joint. 



Brandies. The branches of the Anterior Tibial Artery are the 

 Recurrent, 

 Muscular, 

 External malleolar, 

 Internal malleolar. 



The Recurrent branch passes upwards beneath the origin of the 

 tibialis anticus muscle to the front of the knee-joint, upon which it 

 is distributed, anastomosing with the articular arteries. 



The Muscular branches are very numerous, they supply the muscles 

 of the anterior tibial region. 



The Malleolar arteries are distributed to the ankle-joint ; the ex- 

 ternal passing beneath the tendons of the extensor longus digitorum 



branches of the popliteal. 1 1 . The internal malleolar artery. 17. The external 

 malleolar inosculating with the anterior peroneal artery 12. 13. The dorsalis 

 pedis artery. 14. The tarsea and metatarsea arteries; the tarsea is nearest the 

 ankle, the metatarsea is seen giving off the interossese. 15. The dorsalis hallucis 

 artery. 16. The communicating branch. 



