DISTRIBUTION OF THE TIBIAL NERVE. 527 



Posterior Tibial Nerve. 



At the commencement of this course, a small distance below 

 the internal condyle of theos femoris it gives off some muscular 

 branches to the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, and one to 

 the knee joint which pierces the ligament of Winslow ; it sends 

 off another of considerable size, called the Communicans Tibia, 

 or Poplitei, or Saphena Externa, which passes down behind the 

 gastrocnemius, and gradually inclines externally, so that it is 

 situated on the external edge of the tendo Achillis, soon after 

 the commencement of that tendon, and proceeds behind the 

 external ankle, near the outer side of the foot, to the smaller 

 toes : distributing branches to the contiguous parts. In its course 

 on the back of the leg, it sends off a branch which unites with 

 one of the superficial ramifications of the fibular nerve called 

 Communicans peronei ; the trunk thus formed, descends to the 

 outer part of the foot. 



The Posterior Tibial Nerve, in its course downwards, sends 

 branches to the contiguous muscles, and a few twigs which form 

 a species of network on the artery. In the hollow of the os 

 calcis it sends off a superficial branch to the integuments of the 

 sole of the foot, which proceeds on the outside of the aponeu- 

 rosis plantaris : it there also divides into branches, which are 

 denominated the Internal and External Plantar Nerves. 



The Internal Plantar Nerve proceeds forwards, alongside of 

 the tendon of the long flexor muscle of the great toe, giving 

 off small branches in its course ; about the middle of the foot 

 it divides into four branches, one of which proceeds to the inside 

 of the great toe ; and a second to the angle formed by the great 

 toe and the toe next to it, where it divides and sends a branch 

 to the opposite sides of those toes : the other two branches are 

 distributed in a similar manner, to the succeeding toes. These 

 digital branches are connected with each other by small ramifi- 



O 



cations. 



The External Plantar Nerve proceeds with the external 

 plantar artery towards the external side of the foot, between 

 the short flexor of the toes and the flexor accessorius. Near 



