THE PERFORATING METATARSAL ARTERY 201 



it emerges from beneath the flexor accessorius muscle, since the upper 

 portion of the vessel is adequately clothed by muscles. 



The inferior portion although much more superficially placed is 

 protected inasmuch as it is found on the inner aspect of the limb. 

 The retrograde branch, however, must be avoided in performing 

 posterior tibial neurectomy, particularly if a low seat be selected for 

 the cutaneous incision. 



THE PLANTAR ARTERIES 



These are the terminal branches of the posterior tibial artery, and 

 they descend through the tarsal sheath with the tendon of the flexor 

 perforans muscle and the plantar nerves. During their passage through 

 the sheath they give off^ a number of very small branches which are 

 distributed to the hock joint. The plantar arteries terminate by con- 

 curring in forming an arterial arch as described below. 



THE PERFORATING METATARSAL ARTERY 



This is the smaller of the two terminal branches of the anterior 

 tibial artery. From the place where the latter divides this vessel takes 

 a horizontal course backwards, and passes from front to back of the 

 tarsus through the canal formed between the cuboid, scaphoid and cunei- 

 form magnum bones. 



Near the posterior extremity of this canal the artery unites with 

 the two plantar arteries and forms an arch which stretches across the 

 superior extremity of the suspensory ligament. Other names sometimes 

 applied to this vessel are the perforating pedal, and perforating tarsal 

 artery. 



From this arterial arch four v^essels are given off^, two of which 



2 c 



