564 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



Branches of the Second Part. — The branches of the second part, 

 or plantar arch, are as follows : articular, posterior perforating, and 

 digital. 



The articular branches arise from the concavity of the arch, 

 and pass backwards to supply the tarsal articulations. 



The posterior perforating arteries, which are three in number, 

 arise from the upper aspect of the arch. They pass upwards through 

 the proximal parts of the three outer interosseous spaces, and 

 between the two heads of the corresponding dorsal interosseous 

 muscles. On reaching the dorsum of the foot they anastomose 

 with the dorsal interosseous branches of the metatarsal artery, 

 which is a branch of the arteria dorsalis pedis. 



The digital arteries are four in number — first, second, third, 

 and fourth, from without inwards. They arise from the front 

 or convexity of the arch and pass forwards. The first, which is a 

 single artery, lies over the fifth metatarsal bone and flexor brevis 

 minimi digiti. The second, third, and fourth, which are compound 

 arteries, are placed over the fourth, third, and second interosseous 

 spaces respectively, where they lie upon the corresponding inter- 

 osseous muscles. The first is distributed to the outer side of the 

 little toe, of which it is the plantar digital artery. The second, 

 third, and fourth pass over the deep surface of the adductor 

 transversus hallucis, and bifurcate near the clefts between the four 

 outer toes, each dividing into two collateral plantar digital arteries. 

 Those of the second supply the contiguous sides of the fourth and 

 fifth toes, those of the third the contiguous sides of the third and 

 fourth toes, and those of the fourth the contiguous sides of the 

 second and third toes. Each of the inner three digital arteries at 

 its point of bifurcation gives off an anterior perforating artery. 

 These anterior perforating arteries pass upwards through the 

 distal ends of the outer three interosseous spaces, and, on reaching 

 the dorsum of the foot, anastomose with the dorsal interosseous 

 arteries. The inner two (third and fourth) digital arteries are joined 

 near the clefts of the toes by the outer two superficial digital 

 branches of the internal plantar artery. 



On the sides of the toes the plantar digital arteries furnish branches 

 to the flexor tendons and their sheaths, and anastomose freely 

 with the dorsal digital arteries. Near the distal end of the first and 

 second phalanx, and on the plantar aspect of each, the plantar 

 digital arteries of opposite sides form arches from which articular 

 twigs are given to the interphalangeal articulations, and on the 

 plantar aspect of the terminal phalanx they end by forming another 

 arch. From this latter arch branches are furnished to the pulp 

 of the toe and matrix of the nail. Each digital artery is accom- 

 panied by two vencB comites. The external plantar artery 

 corresponds with the deep branch of the ulnar artery in the 

 palm. 



It has been seen that the plantar arch, by means of its four 

 digital branches, supplies the outer three and a half toes. There 



