THE ANTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE i8i 



this muscle, it passes across the upper extremity of the deep flexor of the 

 digit, and then runs on to the outer surface of the peroneus muscle. 

 The nerve is here quite superficially placed, and in some animals it can be 

 felt. It lies immediately beneath the deep fascia of the leg. Whilst on 

 the outer surface of the peroneus it gives off a thick branch, which enters 

 this muscle on its outer aspect, and the parent nerve, now^ very much 

 reduced in size, runs down the limb along the line of apposition of the 

 peroneus and extensor pedis. It is quite superficially placed between the 

 two muscles, and maintains its position immediately beneath the deep 

 fascia. Towards the hock it becomes still more superficial, and its terminal 

 ramifications are distributed to the skin covering the outer and anterior 

 aspects of the metatarsal region. 



THE ANTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE 



This is the second terminal division of the external popliteal nerve, 

 and therefore commences where the latter divides just behind the external 

 lateral ligament of the stifle. It may be said to continue the course of 

 the parent nerve, and runs, therefore, obliquely downwards and forwards, 

 the course taken by this nerve being less inclined to the vertical than is 

 that taken by the musculo-cutaneous division. It passes across the upper 

 extremity of the peroneus muscle above the last-mentioned nerve, and just 

 below the origin of the muscle from the external lateral ligament. The 

 anterior tibial nerve is here superficially placed, and its position may be 

 detected in the living subject by careful palpation. Like the musculo- 

 cutaneous nerve, it lies immediately beneath the deep fascia of the leg. 

 Between two and three inches (the distance varying wath the size of the 

 subject) below the head of the fibula the anterior tibial nerve disappears 

 by dipping inwardly between the bellies of the peroneus and extensor 

 pedis muscles, and in its course down the leg it is covered by the last-men- 

 tioned muscle. It retains this position beneath the extensor pedis until 



