244 CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 



having come off from the anterior tibial immediately upon the lat- 

 ter getting to the front of the leg. Several small ramifications 

 pass from it to the heads of the contiguous muscles on the tibia, 

 and to the lower part of the knee joint, where it anastomoses 

 with the lower articular arteries of the knee. 



2. Several small arterial twigs are afterwards sent to the 

 muscles and to the periosteum of the leg, as the anterior tibial 

 descends, but they are too inconstant in size and position to 

 require description. 



3. The Internal Malleolar Artery (*ftrt. Malleolaris Interna) 

 arises from the anterior tibial, an inch or two above the ankle 

 joint. It descends, inwardly, between the tibia and the tendon 

 of the tibialis anticus, and, having gained the internal malleo- 

 lus, is distributed by branches upon it and upon the adjacent 

 portion of the articulation. 



4. The External Malleolar Artery (Art. Malleolaris Externa) 

 consists most commonly in two arterial twigs of small size, but 

 frequently in one only. It arises in front of the ankle joint, 

 and going outwardly between it and the tendons of the extensor 

 digitorum longus, is spent upon the external face of the articu- 

 lation, where it inosculates with the peroneal artery. 



This artery is sometimes of considerable size, in which case 

 it also supplies the outer part of the tarsus, and is a substitute 

 for the next. 



5. The Tarsal Artery (Arteria Tarsea) arises from the an- 

 terior tibial, somewhat below the ankle joint near the scaphoi- 

 des, and, going outwardly beneath the extensor brevis digito- 

 rum muscle, it is distributed in branches near the external an- 

 kle, and upon the outer upper surface of the tarsus. It anas- 

 tomoses with the external malleolar, with the external plantar, 

 and with the metatarsal artery. 



Some small branches also pass from the anterior tibial at this 

 point to the upper internal face of the tarsus. 



6. The Metatarsal Artery (Art. Metatarsea) arises just below 

 the last. It is directed forwards and outwards beneath the ex- 



