526 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



tibial, it pierces the tibialis posticus and enters the medullary 

 foramen of the tibia, accompanied by the medullary branch of the 

 nerve to the popliteus. 



The cutaneous branches are distributed to the integument of the 

 inner and back part of the leg. 



The communicating branch arises about an inch above the ankle- 

 joint. It passes transversely outwards between the tibia and flexor 

 longus hallucis, and anastomoses with the communicating branch 

 of the peroneal artery. 



The internal malleolar branches are usually two in number. 

 Passing inwards beneath the tendons of the flexor longus digitorum 

 and tibialis posticus, they reach the front of the internal malleolus, 

 where they take part in the internal malleolar anastomosis. 



The internal calcaneal branch arises beneath the internal annular 

 ligament, which it pierces near the lower border to be distributed 

 over the inner surface of the os calcis, where it anastomoses 

 with the internal calcaneal branches of the external plantar 

 artery. 



The terminal branches are the internal and external plantar 

 arteries, which will be afterwards described. 



Peroneal Artery. — ^This vessel, which is of large size, arises from 

 the posterior tibial fully i inch below its commencement. It is at 

 first directed downwards and outwards over the tibialis posticus 

 to the back of the fibula. Having reached that bone, it descend.s 

 along its posterior surface close to the postero-internal border, 

 lying between the bone and the flexor longus hallucis, or within 

 that muscle, or in a fibrous canal between that muscle and the 

 tibialis posticus. About 2 inches above the ankle-joint it escapes 

 from beneath the flexor longus hallucis, and divides into anterior 

 and posterior peroneal arteries. 



Branches. — ^The branches are as follows : muscular, medullary 

 or nutrient, cutaneous, communicating, and terminal. 



The muscular branches are distributed to the adjacent muscles. 



The medullary or nutrient artery enters the medullary foramen of 

 the fibula. 



The cutaneous branches are distributed to the integument on the 

 outer and back part of the leg. 



The communicating branch arises about i inch above the ankle- 

 joint. It passes transversely inwards and anastomoses with the 

 communicating branch of the posterior tibial artery. 



The terminal branches are the anterior peroneal and posterior 

 peroneal. 



The anterior peroneal artery arises from the peroneal artery near 

 the lower part of the interosseous membrane, and passes forwards 

 through the inferior hiatus in it. Having reached the front of 

 the leg, it descends under cover of the peroneus tertius, and takes 

 part in the external malleolar anastomosis, along with the external 

 malleolar of the anterior tibial, the external tarsal of the dorsalis 

 pedis, and the posterior peroneal. 



