ANTERIOR TIBIAL ARTERY. 319 



part of the interosseous membrane, to the anterior tibial region. It 

 then runs down the anterior aspect of the leg to the ankle-joint, 

 where it becomes the dorsalis pedis. 



Relations. In its course downwards it rests upon the interosseous 

 membrane (to which it is connected by a little tendinous arch which 

 is thrown across it), the lower part of the tibia, and the anterior 

 ligament of the joint. In the upper third of its course it is situated 

 between the tibialis anticus and extensor longus digitorum, lower 

 down between the tibialis anticus and extensor proprius pollicis ; and 

 just before it reaches the ankle it is crossed by the tendon of the 

 extensor proprius pollicis, and becomes placed between that tendon 

 and the tendons of the extensor longus digitorum. Its immediate 

 relations are the venae comites arid the anterior tibial nerve, which 

 lies at first to its outer side, and at about the middle of the leg be- 

 comes placed superficially to the artery. 



Plan of the relations of the Anterior Tibial Artery. 



Front. 

 Deep fascia, 

 Tibialis anticus, 

 Extensor longus digitorum, 

 Extensor proprius pollieis, 

 Anterior tibial nerve. 



Inner Side. ~ . Outer Side. 



Tibialis anticus, n enor ^ 



Tendon of the Anterior Tibial Extensor longus digitorum, 



extensor oro Artery. Extensor proprius pollicis, 



prius pollicTs Tendons of the extensor 

 longus digitorum. 



Behind. 



Interosseous membrane, 

 Tibia (lower fourth), 

 Ankle joint. 



Branches. The branches of the Anterior Tibial Artery are the 



Recurrent, 

 Muscular, 

 External malleolar, 

 Internal malleolar. 



The Recurrent branch passes upwards beneath the origin of the 

 tibialis anticus muscle to the front of the knee-joint, upon which it 

 is distributed, anastomosing with the articular arteries. 



The Muscular branches are very numerous, they supply the mus- 

 cles of the anterior tibial region. 



The Malleolar arteries are distributed to the ankle-joint; the 

 external passing beneath the tendons of the extensor longus digi- 

 torum and peroneus tertius, inosculates with the anterior peroneal 

 artery and with the branches of the dorsalis pedis ; the internal 

 beneath the tendons of the extensor proprius pollicis and tibialis 





