246 CIRCULA.TORY SYSTEM. 



gus pollicis pedis, being covered by the laciniated ligament. It 

 is accompanied, at its external margin, by the posterior tibial 

 nerve. 



The posterior tibial artery is distributed after the following 

 manner: 



1. The Peroneal Artery*(*4rten'fl Peronea) is its first branch 

 of any importance, and is but little smaller than the continued 

 trunk. It arises an inch or two below the origin of the ante- 

 rior tibial, and extends, on the posterior face of the leg, to the 

 external ankle. It is, in some measure, concealed by the pos- 

 terior side of the fibula, being placed there between the origin 

 of the flexor longus pollicis muscle and the external edge of the 

 tibialis posticus. It is covered behind by the flexor longus pol- 

 licis, by the soleus, and by the gastrocnemius ; it is, therefore, 

 deep and of extremely difficult access in the living body. 



In this course, it sends small branches to the gastrocnemius, 

 to the soleus, and to the other contiguous muscles on the back 

 of the leg. After having descended two-thirds of the length of 

 the fibula, it divides into an anterior and a posterior branch. 

 The former traverses the interosseous ligament, and, descend- 

 ing in front of it, covered by the muscles which arise from the 

 lower part of the fibula, is distributed upon the upper external 

 part of the foot near the ankle joint. The posterior branch con- 

 tinues in the primitive course of the peroneal artery at the in- 

 ternal posterior margin of the fibula, and descending behind the 

 tibio-peroneal articulation, reaches the external face of the os 

 calcis: it detaches several small ramifications to the contiguous 

 muscles; and, upon the os calcis, is divided into twigs which 

 supply the adjacent parts and the integuments below the exter- 

 nal ankle. 



2. In the descent of the posterior tibial artery to the hollow 

 of the os calcis, it detaches several small muscular branches, 

 principally to the tibialis posticus, and to the flexors of the toes. 

 One twig, which is the nutritious artery of the tibia, comes from 

 its upper part when not furnished from the popliteal artery, and 

 enters the foramen on the posterior surface of the bone. 



While the posterior tibial is in the hollow of the os calcis, 

 between it and the abductor muscle of the great toe, it furnishes 

 S>me small twigs to the contiguous muscles, and to the integu- 



