THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE DOG 



731 



branch (R. profundus) descends in the carpal canal and divides under the deep 

 flexor tendon into its terminal branches. The smaller of tiiese supply the volar 

 metacarpal muscles. The larger terminals are the three volar common digital 

 nerves (Nn. dig. vol. comm. II, III, I\'), which descend along the second, third, 

 and fourth intermetacarpal spaces, subdivide, and concur with the volar metacarpal 

 branches of the median nerve in foi-ming the volar proper digital nerves (Nn. dig. 

 vol. proprii). 



The median nerve descends behind the brachial artery, passes over the internal 

 epicondyle of tlie humerus, then under the pronator teres, and continues in the 

 forearm under cover of the flexor carpi radialis. It gives branches below the elbow 



Brandies of 

 radial nerve 



Dorsal 



branch of 



ulnar ncrrc 



Dorsal com- 

 mon digital 



nerves 



Median nerve 



Deep 



branch 



Super- 



ficial 



branch 



Fig. 547. — Nerves of Dist.^l P.\rt ok Right Fore 



Limb of Dog, Anterior View (Schem.\tic). 



p, Dorsal proper digital nerves. 



Fig. 548.^ — Nerves op Di.st.-vl P.\rt of Right Fore 



Limb of Dog, Posterior View (Schem.\tic). 



p. Volar jjroper digital nerves. 



to the flexor and pronator muscles, and lower down a palmar branch to the skin 

 on the inner and ]iosterior aspect of the car])us, and terminates between the super- 

 ficial and deep flexor tendons by dividing into three volar metacarpal nerves 

 (N. met. vol. I, II, III). These descend in the first, second, antl third intermeta- 

 carpal spaces and unite with the volar common digital nerves in forming volar 

 proper digital nerves. The arrangement of the digital nerves is indicated in the 

 annexed schematic figures. 



The lumbo-sacral plexus is formed from the ventral branches of the last five 

 lumbar and first sacral nerves. The more important special facts in regard to the 

 nerves of the pelvic limb are as follows: 



The saphenous nerve (Fig. 492) is relatively large, and, in fact, might be 



