PLANTAR ARTERIES. 323 



wards to the fibula. It then runs downwards along the inner border 

 of the fibula to its lower third, where it divides into the anterior and 

 posterior peroneal artery. 



Relations. The peroneal artery rests upon the tibialis posticus 

 muscle, and is covered in by the soleus, the intermuscular fascia, and 

 the flexor longus pollicis, having the fibula to its outer side. 



Plan of the relations of the Peroneal Artery. 



In Front. 

 Soleus, 



Intermuscular fascia, 

 Flexor longus pollicis. 



Peroneal Artery. 



Outer Side. 

 Fibula. 



Behind. 

 Tibialis posticus. 



Branches. The branches of the peroneal artery are muscular to 

 the neighbouring muscles, particularly to the soleus, and the two 

 terminal branches anterior and posterior peroneal. 



The Anterior peroneal pierces the interosseous membrane at the 

 lower third of the leg, and is distributed on the front of the outer 

 malleolus, anastomosing with the external malleolar and tarsal artery. 

 This branch is very variable in size. 



The Posterior peroneal continues onwards along the posterior 

 aspect of the outer malleolus to the side of the os calcis, to which 

 and to the muscles arising from it, it distributes external calcanean 

 branches. It anastomoses with the anterior peroneal, tarsal, exter- 

 nal plantar, and posterior tibial artery. 



The Nutritious artery of the tibia arises from the trunk of the 

 tibial, frequently above the origin of the peroneal, and proceeds to 

 the nutritious canal which it traverses obliquely from below upwards. 



The Muscular branches of the posterior tibial artery are distributed 

 to the soleus and to the deep muscles on the posterior aspect of the 

 leg. One of these branches is deserving of notice, a recurrent 

 branch, which! arises from the posterior tibial above the origin 

 of the peroneal artery, pierces the soleus and is distributed upon the 

 inner side of the tibia, anastomosing with the inferior internal 

 articular. 



The Internal calcanean branches, three or four in number, proceed 

 from the posterior tibial artery immediately before its division ; they 

 are distributed to the inner side of the os calcis, to the integument, 

 and to the muscles which arise from its inner tuberosity, and they 

 anastomose with the external calcanean branches, and with all the 

 neighbouring arteries. 



PLANTAR ARTERIES. 



The Internal plantar artery proceeds from the bifurcation of the 

 posterior tibial at the inner malteolus and passes along the inner 



