THE SOLE OP THE FOOT. 287 



external plantar ; the internal commences at about the 

 centre of the inner aspect of the os calcis, and courses 

 forwards between the muscles of the inner and middle 

 groups, anastomosing with the malleolar and dorsalis 

 pedis. The external is much larger, and forms the 

 plantar arch. Commencing at the same spot as the in- 

 ternal, it passes obliquely forwards and outwards, lying 

 at first between the os calcis and abductor pollicis, and 

 then between the flexor accessories and flexor brevis, and 

 forming a curve, the convexity of which is forwards, it 

 joins, at the interval between the first and second meta- 

 tarsal bones, the perforating branch of the dorsalis pedis, 

 thus completing the plantar arch. Its branches are 

 muscular, perforating, which inosculate with those of the 

 metatarsal artery, and digital, which supply the three 

 outer toes and half the second. 



The nerves are the internal and external plantar 

 branches of the posterior tibial, of which the internal is 

 considerably the larger. 



Toes. The description already given of the fingers 

 will in almost every particular suffice for that of the 

 toes. 



