640 



CIRCULATORY SYSTEM OF THE DOG 



femoral nerve, dips in between the rectus femoris and vastus intenius. The ex- 

 ternal circumflex artery passes forward between the sartorius internally and the 

 rectus femoris and tensor fasciae latae externally and supplies branches to these 

 muscles and the glutei. In addition to muscular branches of considerable size, 

 an articular branch (A. genu suprema) arises a little b(4ow the middle of the thigh 

 and runs downward and forward to the inner face of the stifle joint. Tlie saphenous 

 artery is large. It arises from the inner surface of the femoral a little below the 

 middle of the femur, descends superficially to the upper part of the leg and divides 

 into two branches. The smaller anterior branch (Ramus dorsalis) passes obliquely 



Fig. 493. — Arteries of Distal Part of Right Hixd 

 Limb of Dog, Anterior View. 

 a. External branch of anterior tibial artery; 

 h, anterior tibial artery; c, saphenous artery (anterior 

 branch); d, perforating metatarsal artery; e, dorsal 

 metatarsal arteries; /, deep dorsal metatarsal arteries; 

 ff, superficial dorsal metatarsal arteries; h, anastomoses 

 between dorsal and plantar arteries; i, common 

 digital arteries; j, proper digital arteries. 



Fio. 494.— Arteries of Distal Part of Right Hind 

 Limb of Dog, Posterior View. 

 k. Saphenous artery (posterior branch); /, I', 

 internal and external plantar arteries; m, perforating 

 metatarsal artery; n, deep plantar metatansal arteries; 

 o, superficial plantar metatarsal arteries; p, common 

 digital artery; q, proper digital arteries. 



downward and forward across the inner surface of the tibia to the flexion surface of 

 the hock and terminates in three superficial dorsal metatarsal arteries. The poste- 

 rior branch (Ramus plantaris) passes down on the inner face of the gastrocnemius 

 and the long digital flexor. It gives off a branch (A. tarsea lateralis) which descends 

 obliquely to the external surface of tlu> tai'sus, and at the posterior face of the tarsus 

 detaches th(> internal and external plantar arteries ; these descend on either side 

 of the deep flexor tendon and unite with the perforating metatarsal artery to form 

 the proximal plantar arch. The artery continues down the middle of the plantar 

 surface of the metatarsus and divides near the metacarpo-phalangeal joints into 



