ADDUCTOK OBLIQUUS HALLUCIS. 207 



Resting on the muscle at one part, and in the interval between relations ; 

 the heads at another, is the tendon of the flexor longus halluci.s. 

 The inner head joins the abductor, and the outer is united with the 

 adductor hallucis. A sesamoid bone is developed in the tendon 

 connected with each head. 



Action. By its attachment to the first phalanx it flexes the use. 

 metatarso-phalangeal joint of the big toe. 



The ADDUCTOR OBLIQUUS HALLUCIS (adductor pollicis pedlS, fig. Adductor 



78, B), which is larger than the preceding muscle, arises from the hallucis 8 ; 

 sheath of the tendon of the peroneus longus, from the ridge on the origin ; 

 cuboid, and from the bases of the third and fourth metatarsal 

 bones (tig. 76). Anteriorly the muscle is united with the outer insertion ; 

 head of the short flexor, and is inserted with it into the base of the 

 first phalanx of the great toe. 



To the inner side is the flexor brevis ; and beneath the outer relations ; 

 border the external plantar vessels and nerves are directed inwards. 



Action. Its first action will be to adduct the great toe to the use. 

 others, and it will help afterwards in bending the metatarso- 

 phalangeal joint of the toe. 



The ADDUCTOR TRAXSVERSUS HALLUCIS (transverSUS pedis, fig. Adductor 



78, D) arises by fleshy bundles from the capsules of the meta- hallucis: 

 tarso-phalangeal articulations of the three outer toes (fig. 76) origin; 

 (frequently not from the little toe), and from the transverse meta- 

 tarsal ligament. Its insertion into the great toe is united with that insertion ; 

 of the adductor obliqims. 



The cutaneous surface is covered by the tendons and the nerves relations; 

 of the toes ; and the opposite surface is in contact with the inter- 

 osseous muscles and the digital vessels. 



Action. It will adduct the great toe to the others, and then se on the 



tO6S 



approximate the remaining toes. 



The FLEXOR BREVIS MINIMI DIGITI (fig. 78, C) IS a narrow Flexor 



muscle resembling one of the interossei. Arising behind from the digitl"; 1 

 base of the fifth metatarsal bone and the sheath of the peroneus origin; 

 longus, it blends in front with the inferior ligament of the metatarso- 

 phalangeal articulation, and is inserted into the base of the first insertion ; 

 phalanx of the toe. 



Action. Firstly, it bends the metatarso-phalangeal joint, and use. 

 next it draws down and adducts the fifth metatarsal bone. 



Dissection (fig. 79). In order that the deep vessels and nerves Dissect the 



(i66T> V6SS61 



may be seen, the flexor brevis and adductor obliquus hallucis are to and nerves, 

 be cut through behind, and thrown towards the toes ; but the nerve 

 supplying the latter is to be preserved. Beneath the adductor lie 

 the plantar arch and the external plantar nerve with their branches ; 

 and through the first interosseous space the dorsal artery of the foot 

 enters the sole. All these vessels and nerves, with their branches, 

 require careful cleaning. 



The muscles projecting between the metatarsal bones are the 

 interossei ; the fascia covering them should be removed. 



The PLANTAR ARCH (fig. 79, rf) is the portion of the external Arch of the 

 plantar artery which reaches from the base of the metatarsal bone artery 1 - 



