ARTERIES OF THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY. 



course, and dividing into the anterior bud. posterior peroneal 

 arteries. The former gets through the interosseous liga- 

 ment, about two inches above the F, G> 260. 

 ankle, and is distributed upon the 

 upper external part of the foot ; the 

 latter supplies the heel and external 

 ankle. Muscular branches are given off 

 to the various muscles in its course. 



The nutritious artery enters the nu- 

 tritious foramen of the tibia. 



The plantar arteries form the ter- 

 minating branches, and are two in 

 number. 



The external, the larger of the plan- 

 tar branches, passes outward and for- 

 ward above the flexor brevis to the 

 fifth metatarsal bone; from this it 

 curves inward, across the foot, to the 

 first metatarsal bone, forming the ar- 

 cus plantarisj and ends by anastomo- 

 sing with the anterior tibial. In its course the external 

 plantar gives off the perforating branches, four in number, 

 from its arch, which perforate as well as supply the inter- 

 osseous muscles. 



The digital arteries come also from the plantar arch, and 

 after sending branches to the lumbricales and interossei, 

 divide so as to supply the adjacent sides of contiguous toes. 

 The artery of the little toe runs along its outer surface. 



The internal plantar passes along the inner side of the 



FIG. 260 represents the Arteries on the Sole of the Foot, o Posterior tibial 

 artery. 6 Branches to the heel, c Branch of the posterior peroneal artery. 

 d Point of division into external and internal plantar arteries, e External 

 plantar. /Point where the external plantar begins to form its arch, g Anas- 

 tomosis of anterior tibial with the plantar arch, h i j Muscular branches of 

 external plantar, k Anastomosis of external plantar with the metatarsal artery. 

 I m Digital branches to the little toe. n Digital branches to the other toes, 

 o o Distribution of latter upon the toes, p Internal plantar artery, q Its anas- 

 tomosis with the plantar arch, r s t Muscular branches of internal plantar. 

 u Digital branch to the big toe. v Sub articular branch. * Anastomosis in 

 the pulp of the toe. 



