INTERNAL POPLITEAL NERVE 199 



Muscular. Recurrent tibial, which, passing forwards, supplies 

 tibialis anticus (upper fibres). 



Articular. Branches to the knee-joint and tibio-fibular articu- 

 lation from the recurrent tibial. 



The Anterior Tibial nerve passes beneath peroneus longus 

 and the extensors of the toes to the front of the leg. With the 

 anterior tibial artery it lies on the interosseous membrane and 

 the lower part of the tibia. Passing beneath the anterior 

 annular ligament, it divides on the dorsum of the foot into its 

 terminal branches. 



Branches. Muscular to tibialis anticus, extensor proprius 

 liallucis, extensor longus digitorum and peroneus tertius, and 

 extensor brevis digitorum (from its external terminal branch). 



Articular to ankle-joint and tarsal and metatarsal joints 

 (from its external terminal branch). 



Cutaneous from the internal terminal branches. The nerve 

 passes along the dorsum of the foot on the outer side of the 

 dorsalis pedis artery and supplies the skin of the cleft, between 

 the first and second toes. 



The Musculo- Cutaneous nerve passes down the leg, lying 

 between the peronei and the extensor muscles. In the lower 

 third of the leg it pierces the deep fascia and divides into its 

 two terminal branches internal and external. 



Branches. Muscular to peroneus longus and brevis. 



Cutaneous to the lower third of the skin of the leg, and, passing 

 over the anterior annular ligament, to the dorsum of the foot, the 

 inner side of the great toe and the skin of the clefts between the 

 toes, not excepting the one also supplied by the anterior tibial 

 nerve. 



The Internal Popliteal Nerve. One of the terminal branches 

 of the great sciatic nerve, from the upper part of the popliteal 

 space to the lower border of the popliteus muscle, where it is 

 continued down the leg. It lies at first beneath semimem- 

 branosus; then, crossing the popliteal vessels to their inner 

 side, it lies on popliteus and is covered by gastrocnemius 

 and plantaris. It then passes down the back of the leg 

 between the superficial and deep muscles with the posterior 

 tibial vessels, at first on their inner side, but crossing over in the 



