EXTERNAL PLANTAR ARTERY. 307 



abductor muscle of the great toe and the bones of the tarsus. 

 It then divides into two branches the internal and the external 

 plantar arteries. 



The Internal Plantar Artery 



Is commonly much smaller than the other rami6cation. It 

 passes in the direction of the internal edge of the foot, but at 

 some distance from it, and often lies between the aponeurosis 

 plantaris and the abductor pollicis. It frequently terminates by 

 anastomosing with one of the arteries of the great toe, and in its 

 course sends off several branches to the contiguous parts on each 

 side of it. 



The External Plantar Artery 



Is the continuation of the main trunk. It proceeds outwards 

 and forwards between the short flexor of the toes and the 

 flexor accessorius ; and continues afterwards between the first 

 of these muscles and the abductor of the little toe. At the 

 metatarsal bone of the little toe it begins to curve, and con- 

 tinues its curvature across the other metatarsal bones to the 

 interstice between the great toe and the one next to it, passing 

 between the tendons of the long extensor and the metatarsal 

 bones. At the interstice above mentioned, it anastomoses with 

 the tibialis anticus. The curvature, thus formed, is called the 

 Arcus Plantaris. 



In this course, the External Plantar sends off several 

 branches to the heel and the parts of the foot, especially on the 

 external side ; the deep-seated parts of the foot being supplied 

 from the curve. 



Digital branches go off from the curve, as they do in the 

 hand, from the curve of the ulnar. There is first a small branch 

 to the outside of the little toe, and then three regular branches, 

 which pass to the junction of the roots of the four small toes, 

 and divide, like the digital arteries of the hand, so as to send a 

 branch to the side of each toe. These digital arteries pass 

 between the muscle called Transversalis Pedis and the meta- 



