THE PERONEAL ARTERY. 305 



close to the interosseous ligament, with the tibialis anticus mus- 

 cle on the inside, and the extensor communis on the outside, 

 in the first part of its course ; and afterwards, with the extensor 

 pollicis pedis on the outside of it. It gradually Inclines inter- 

 nally as it descends, so that a little above the ankle it is upon 

 the front part of the tibia. It proceeds thence with the tendons 

 of the extensor digitorum pedis, under the annular ligament, 

 to the upper surface of the foot, on which it continues to the 

 interstice of the first and second metatarsal bones, where 

 it descends to anastomose in the way presently to be men- 

 tioned. 



In this course it sends off, soon after it has arrived at its 

 anterior situation, a recurrent branch, (recurrens tibialis) which 

 is distributed to the heads of the muscles and the ligaments of 

 the articulation, and which anastomoses with the branches of 

 the inferior articular arteries. It also sends off, on each side, 

 many arterial twigs to the contiguous muscles, and very fre- 

 quently one branch of considerable size, which passes down 

 near the fibula. 



When it has arrived near the end of the tibia, it sends a 

 branch on each side, called the Internal and External Malleo- 

 lar. On the top of the foot, it takes the name of dorsal artery 

 of the foot, and among several smaller arteries, it sends off a 

 branch under the extensor brevis digitorum pedis, which passes 

 outwards and forwards, and supplies the muscles, &c., on the 

 upper part of the foot. This vessel is called Arteria Tarsa. 

 There is also another branch, called Metatarsa, which generally 

 arises about the middle of the foot, and passes obliquely outward 

 and forward, supplying the contiguous parts. 



The Anterior Tibial artery having arrived at the space be- 

 tween the metatarsal bones of the first and second toes, bends 

 down to the sole of the foot, but previously sends off a branch 

 (dorsalis pollicis) which passes near the external edge of the 

 metatarsal bone of the great toe, and divides into two branches, 

 one of which goes to the outside of the great toe, and the other 

 to the opposite side of the toe next to it. 

 26* 



