294 CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 



of the limb ; they are, however, more numerous internally than 

 externally, and, for the most part, run upwards. 



Those on the inner or anterior side of the limb are first per- 

 ceived on the back of the toes and foot. They incline over the 

 front of the ankle, and its internal face to the inner side of the 

 leg; they then ascend over the inner side of the knee, and along 

 the same side of the thigh to the groin. The superficial absorb- 

 ents of the back of the lower extremity are first perceived on 

 the sole of the foot. They ascend along the back of the outer 

 ankle and of the leg above the knee; they then incline semi- 

 spirally inwards, so as to bring themselves to the front of the 

 thigh. These several absorbents, though there are but few on 

 the foot, augment continually in number by new accessions in 

 their ascent. All those on the posterior internal face of the 

 thigh wind over its internal side, while such as are on its poste- 

 rior external face wind over the outer side, to reach the ingui- 

 nal glands, 



The Deep Absorbents adhere to the arteries, being at least 

 two to each, and adopting the same distribution and nomencla- 

 ture. The anterior tibial set begins in the sole of the foot, and 

 arises to its back between the two first metatarsal bones; ano- 

 ther branch begins on the dorsum of the foot. The first pur- 

 sues the course of the anterior tibial artery through the inter- 

 osseal ligament to the ham, the second frequently joins the pero- 

 neal absorbents about half way up the leg. The posterior tibial 

 and the peroneal absorbents, as they cruise along their respective 

 arteries, do not require any farther comment. There is a fourth 

 set of these deep absorbents, amounting to two or three in num- 

 ber, which attend the external saphena vein, and come from the 

 external side of the foot. Getting between the heads of the gas- 

 trocnemii muscles, they are re-enforced by other trunks from 

 this muscle; some of the branches then associate themselves 

 with the superficial lymphatics, and others penetrate the ham, 

 so as to join the deep trunks there. 



The deep absorbents of the leg coalesce partially in the ham, 

 and ascend along the popliteal artery. On the thigh, there are 

 from four to eight of these trunks attending the femoral artery, 

 and receiving additions as the latter detaches branches. 



