THE FOOT. 275 



The structures met with in dissecting down upon the 

 dorsal aspect of the tarsus and metatarsus, are the in- 

 tegument, and subcutaneous cellular tissue, which con- 

 tains the dorsal venous arch, the terminal inosculation 

 of the internal and external saphena, and the musculo- 

 cutaneous nerves, beneath which is the dorsal aponeuro- 

 sis of the foot, and from within outwards the tendons of 

 the tibialis posticus, tibialis anticus, extensor proprius 

 pollicis, extensor communis digitorum, peroneus tertius, 

 and peroneus brevis, and in a plane beneath them the 

 extensor brevis digitorum ; externally, the dorsalis pedis 

 vessels and anterior tibial nerve, the tarsal and metatar- 

 sal branches of the anterior tibial artery and external 

 branch of the anterior tibial nerve, which latter lie be- 

 neath the lesser extensor muscle. All these structures 

 lie close upon the tarsus and metatarsus, and between 

 the metatarsal bones the dorsal interossei are seen bulg- 

 ing through. 



The dorsalis pedis artery is the continuation of the 

 anterior tibial, and passes forwards on the tibial side of 

 the foot to the inner interosseous space, where it divides 

 into the dorsalis hallucis and the perforating vessels 

 which enter the sole between the heads of the first dorsal 

 interosseous muscle, and is in relation in front with the 

 integument and fascia, and inner tendon of the extensor 

 brevis digitorum ; internally with the extensor proprius 

 pollicis ; externally with the extensor longus digitorum 

 and anterior tibial nerve ; posteriorly with the astraga- 

 lus, scaphoid, inner cuneiform, and with the ligaments 

 attached to them. 



Ligature of Dorsalis Pedis Artery. The course of this 

 vessel is indicated by a line drawn from the middle of 

 the intermalleolar space to the first interosseous space. 



