THE LOWER LIMB 



559 



nerve is distributed to the inner side of the great toe, and it 

 furnishes a branch to the flexor brevis hallucis muscle. The 

 second digital ner\'e gives off a twig to the first lumbricalis, and 

 near the cleft between the great toe and the second it divides into 

 two collateral plantar digital nerves, which supply the contiguous 

 sides of these two toes. The third digital ner\^e divides near the 

 cleft between the second and third toes into two collateral plantar 

 digital nerves, which supply the contiguous sides of these two toes. 

 The fourth digital nerve also divides near the cleft between the 

 third and fourth toes into two collateral plantar digital ner\-es, 

 which supply the contiguous sides of these two toes. Before 

 dividing, it communicates by a twig \\dth that digital branch of the 

 superficial division of the external plantar which supphes the con- 



Calcaneo-plantar of Posterior .^i- 

 Tibial 



Internal Plantar 



Branches of Internal Saphenous; 



Branch to Flexor Brevis Hallucis. _ 

 Branch to First Lumbricali: 



Branches of External Saphenous 



External Plantar 

 Superficial Branch 

 Deep Branch 



Fig. 263. — Diagram of the Nerves of the Foot (Plantar Aspect). 



tiguous sides of the fourth and fifth toes. The nerves on the sides 

 of the toes are placed below the digital arteries. They furnish 

 articular branches to the joints of the toes and cutaneous branches 

 to the plantar and dorsal surfaces of the toes. Finally each ter- 

 minates in two branches — one to the matrix of the nail, and the other 

 to the pulp of the toe. The branches of the digital nerves are beset 

 with numerous Pacinian bodies. 



Summary of the Internal Plantar Nerve. — Museular branches to abductor 

 hallucis. flexor brevis digitorum. flexor brevis hallucis, and first lumbricalis. 

 Cutaneous branches to the integument of the inner half of the sole and the 

 inner three and a half toes. Articular branches to the astragalo-navicular, 

 naviculo-cuneiform, and digital articulations. 



The internal plantar nerve in its digital distribution corresponds closely 



