THE LIMB IN SECTION 31 



portion being related anteriorly to a thin sheet more deeply coloured, 

 which is the tendinous division. 



The anterior face of the flexor metatarsi muscle is embraced by the 

 posterior face of another large muscle. This is the extensor pedis, and 

 its anterior face will be observed to be markedly convex. This surface 

 forms the rounded elevation which is such a prominent surface landmark 

 in the living animal. A portion of the extensor pedis extends backwards 

 to the outer side of the flexor metatarsi and comes into apposition 

 posteriorly with a forwardly projecting portion of another large muscle 

 lying on the outer side of the limb. This latter muscle is the peroneus. 

 Between it and the extensor pedis there is placed a small nerve. This 

 is the musculo-cutaneous division of the external popliteal, and it 

 occupies a superficial position immediately beneath the deep layer of 

 fascia which passes from the surface of the extensor pedis on to that of 

 the peroneus. Between the two muscles named, but at a deeper level, 

 and lying on the flexor metatarsi, is the anterior tibial nerve, which, it 

 will be observed, is here very small. 



The flexor metatarsi, the anterior portion of the inner border of the 

 peroneus, and the outer portion of the anterior border of the tibia form 

 the boundaries of a triangular area, in which we find a large artery and 

 two veins. The artery is the anterior tibial, and the veins are its 

 venae comites. 



Two subcutaneous branches of the internal saphena nerve are 

 visible. One is placed on the inner face of the flexor metatarsi muscle. 

 The other is found on the inner surface of the tibia. This surface is 

 observed to be slightly convex, and to be immediately subcutaneous, a 

 point which is of importance in considering fracture of this bone. In 

 front of the more posterior of the two branches of the internal saphena 

 nerve is a large vessel. This is the anterior root of the internal saphena 

 vein, and it will be observed to lie in intimate relationship to the bone 

 itself. It is joined by the posterior root a little higher up this surface 

 of the bone. 



