458 MUSCLES. 



rior face of the external condyle, passes through the capsular 

 ligament, being connected with the external semi-lunar carti- 

 lage ; and then forms a fleshy belly which passes obliquely in- 

 wards and downwards. 



It is inserted, fleshy, into the oblique ridge on the back of the 

 tibia, just below its head, and into the triangular depression 

 above it. A bursa exists between its origin and the capsular 

 ligament ; its tendon is in contact with the synovial membrane 

 of the joint. 



It bends the leg, and rotates it inwards, when bent. 



The Flexor Longus Digitorum Pedis Perforans, 



Is behind the tibia, and at the inner edge of the tibialis pos- 

 ticus. It arises, by an acute, tendinous and fleshy beginning, 

 from the back of the tibia, a little below the popliteus muscle; 

 its origin being continued along the internal angle of the tibia 

 almost to the ankle joint. It arises, also, by tendinous and 

 fleshy fibres, from the outer edge of the tibia, just above its con- 

 nexion with the fibula at the ankle: the latter origin is, how- 

 ever, frequently deficient, and between this double order of 

 fibres the tibialis posticus passes. 



The fibres go obliquely into a tendon at the posterior edge 

 of the muscle, which runs in the groove behind the internal 

 malleolus, and is confined there by a strong ligamentous sheath, 

 being placed behind, and within the tendon of the tibialis pos- 

 ticus. The tendon then gets to the sole of the foot along the 

 sinuosity of the os calcis, and being joined by a considerable 

 tendon, detached from the flexor longus pollicis, it divides into 

 four branches which are appropriated to the four smaller toes. 



These tendons are inserted into the base of the last phalanges 

 of the lesser toes, are very near the tarsal bones, and, from per- 

 forating the tendons of the flexor brevis, correspond with the 

 flexor perforans of the hand. A bursa exists where the tendon 

 passes along the tibia and the os calcis; and another is found in 

 the sole of the foot, enveloping this tendon and that of the flexor 

 longus pollicis. 



A fifth tendon is sometimes observed, which splks and goes 



