332 



PLANTAR ARTERIES. 



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 Jlnterior peroneal pierces the interosseous membrane at the lowei 

 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 mus- 

 cles arising from it, it distributes external calcanean branches. It anasto- 

 moses with the anterior peroneal, tarsal, external 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 head 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 distri- 

 buted 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. 



Fig. 161 * 



PLANTAR ARTERIES. 



The Internal plantar artery proceeds from the bifur- 

 cation of the posterior tibial at the inner malleolus ? 

 and passes along the inner border of the foot between 

 the abductor pollicis and flexor brevis digitorum mus- 

 cles, 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 horizontally inwards 

 between the second and third layers, to the first meta- 

 tarsal space, where it inosculates with the communi- 

 cating branch from the dorsalis pedis. The horizontal 

 portion of the artery describes a slight curve, having 

 the convexity forwards ; this is the plantar arch. 



Branches. The branches of the external plantar 

 artery are the 



Muscular, 



Articular, 



Digital, anterior perforating, 



Posterior perforating. 



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

 cles having been removed. 1. The under and posterior part of the os calcis; to \vhich 

 the origins of the first layei of muscles remain attached. 2. The musculus accessorial 



