NERVES OF FRONT OF LEG. 185 



tt-ii. Ion of the extensor hallucis, and throwing outwards the external 

 half of it, the different sheaths of the ligament, the attachment to 

 the os calcis, and the origin of the extensor brevis digitorum from 

 that bone may be observed. 



The anterior tibial and musculo-cutaneous nerves are now to be follow up 

 followed upwards to their origin from the external popliteal ; and l ieneh> 

 a small branch to the knee-joint from the same source is to be traced 

 through the tibialis anticus. 



NERVES OF THE FRONT OF THE LEG. Between the fibula and Nerves of 

 the peroneus longiis muscle the external popliteal nerve divides into fhe I* 

 the musculo-cutaneous and anterior tibial ; and from the beginning 

 of the anterior tibial nerve, or the end of the popliteal trunk, a 

 small branch called the recurrent articular is given off. 



The RECURRENT ARTICULAR BRANCH takes the COUrse of the Recurrent. 



artery of the same name through the tibialis anticus muscle, in 

 which most of its fibres end. A small twig may be followed to the 

 knee-joint. 



The MUSCULO-CUTANEOUS NERVE is continued between the extensor Muscuio- 

 longus digitorum and the peronei muscles to the lower third of the Cl 

 leg, where it pierces the fascia, and is distributed to the dorsum of 

 the foot and the toes (p. 176). Before the nerve becomes cutaneous supplies 

 it furnishes branches to the two larger peronei muscles. 



The ANTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE (fig. 69, p. 181) is directed beneath Anterior 

 ;he extensor longus digitorum, and reaches the tibial artery in the the^artery : 

 .ower part of the upper third of the leg. From this spot it takes the 

 same course as the vessel along the leg and foot to the first interosseous 

 space (p. 182). In the leg it lies for the most part in front of the 

 interior tibial vessels, but on the foot it is generally external to the 

 dorsal artery and terminates between the first and second toes (p. 177). 



Branches. In the leg the nerve supplies the anterior tibial branches to 

 muscle, the extensors of the toes, and the peroneus tertius. On the muscles, 

 dorsum of the foot it furnishes a considerable branch to the short 

 extensor ; this becomes enlarged, and gives offsets to the articu- 

 lations of the foot. 



MUSCLES ON THE OUTER SIDE OF THE LEG (fig. 67 and fig. 74, External 

 }>. 192). Two muscles occupy the situation, and are named peroneal muscles of 

 from their attachment to the fibula ; they are distinguished as long 

 and short. Intermuscular processes of fascia, which are attached to 

 the fibula, isolate these muscles from others. 



The PERONEUS LONGUS (fig. 67 and fig. 74, G), the more superficial peroneus 

 of the two muscles, passes into the sole of the foot round the outer lon g"s: 

 border. It arises from the outer tuberosity of the tibia by a small origin from 

 slip, from the head, and the outer surface of the shaft of the fibula the abula ; 

 for two-thirds of the length, gradually tapering downwards (fig. 68, 

 p. 1 79), and from the fascia and the intermuscular septa. Inferiorly, 

 it ends in a tendon which is continued through the external annular 

 ligament with the peroneus brevis, lying in the groove at the back 

 of the external malleolus ; and it passes finally in a separate sheath 

 below the peroneus brevis along the side of the os calcis, and 

 through the groove in the outer border of the cuboid bone, to the 



