THE FOOT. 



573 



It can be ligated by making an incision at the medial side of the base of 

 the fifth metatarsal bone between the flexor brevis digitorum and the flexor brevis 

 minimi digiti. 



Formal ligation of the plantar arteries is not often required. If wounded the 

 bleeding ^can be stopped by packing the wound, applying pressure, and elevating the 

 foot as high as possible. Care is to be exercised in making incisions in the sole of 



Princeps hallucis artery 



Flexor accessorius and 

 long flexor tendons 



Plantar arch 



Tendon of peroneus longus 

 Flexor brevis hallucis 

 Flexor longus hallucis 

 Internal plantar nerve 



Internal plantar artery 

 Abductor hallucis 



Internal malleolus 



Posterior tibial tendon 



Flexor longus digitorum 



Posterior tibial artery 



Posterior tibial nerve 



Flexor brevis digitorum 



Flexor brevis 

 minimi digiti 



Abductor minimi digiti 



Adductor hallucis 



Accessorius 



External plantar nerve 

 External plantar artery 



Tendon of flexor brevis 

 ligitorum 



Internal calcanean 

 branch of posterior 

 tibial 



Flexor longus hallucis 



FIG. 591. Plantar arteries and nerves. 



the foot in the grooves to the inner and outer side of the flexor brevis digitorum for 

 fear of wounding the plantar arteries. The external plantar is, however, not liable 

 to be wounded if the incision is made back toward the tubercle of the os calcis. 



The plantar arteries usually escape division in operating subcutaneously on the 

 plantar fascia because the plantar fascia is above the flexor brevis while the arteries 

 are below. It is so difficult to ligate bleeding arteries in the foot that it is usually 

 better to pack the wound with an antiseptic gauze and elevate the limb. 



