324 



PLANTAR ARTERIES. 



border of the foot between the abductor pollicis and flexor brevis 

 digitorum muscles, supplying the inner border of the foot and 

 great'toe. 



The External plantar artery, much larger than the internal, 

 passes obliquely outwards between the first and second layers of the 

 plantar muscles, to the fifth metatarsal space. It then turns hori- 

 zontally inwards between the second and third layers, to the first 

 metatarsal space, where it inosculates with the communicating 

 branch from the dorsalis pedis. The .horizontal portion of the 

 artery describes a slight curve, having the convexity forwards; this 

 is the 'plantar arch. 



Brandies. The branches of the external Fig. 117 * 



plantar artery are the 



Muscular, 



Articular, 



Digital, anterior perforating, 



Posterior perforating. 



The Muscular branches are distributed to 

 the muscles in the sole of the foot. 



The Articular branches supply the ligaments 

 of the articulations of the tarsus, and their 

 synovial membranes. 



The Digital branches are four in number: 

 the first is distributed to the outer side of the 

 little toe ; the three others pass forwards to the 

 cleft between the toes, and divide into collateral 

 branches, which supply the adjacent sides of 

 the three external toes and the outer side of 

 the second. At the bifurcation of the toes, a 

 small branch is sent upwards from each 

 digital artery, to inosculate with the inter- 

 osseous branches of the metatarsea; these are the anterior perforating 

 arteries. 



The Posterior perforating are three small branches which pass 

 upwards between the heads of the three external dorsal interossei 

 muscles, to inosculate with the arch formed by the metatarsea 

 artery. 



Varieties in the Arteries of the lower Extremity. The femoral 

 artery occasionally divides at Poupart's ligament into two branches, 

 and sometimes into three ; the former is an instance of the high 

 division of the profunda artery ; and in a case of the latter kind 



* The arteries of the sole of the foot; the first and a part of the second layer of mus- 

 cles having been removed. I. The under and posterior part of the os calcis; to which 

 the origins of t"he first layer of muscles remain attached. 2. The musculus accesso- 

 rius. 3. The long flexor tendons. 4. The tendon of the peronetis longus. 5. The 

 termination of the posterior tibial artery. G. The internal plantar. 7. The external 

 plantar artery. 8. The plantar arch giving off four digital branches, which pass for- 

 wards onJ the jnterossei muscles to divide into collateral branches. 



i 



