PLANTAR NEUROTOMY. 



549 



muscles, then, at a point a little above the fetlock, they ramify 

 and divide into three branches, or digital nerves proper ; one prin- 

 cipal, posterior or continuation of the main trunk, running toward 



Fig. 463.— Plantar Nerve on the Posterior Face of the Phalanges. 

 P. plantar nerve; A, origin of the plantar nerve above the sosamoids; B, cartilagi- 

 nous branch; C, cutaneous branch; D, digital artery; II, branch to the cartilaginous 

 bulbs— sometimes absent; I, branch of the plantar cushion ; K, transversal coronary 

 branch; M, podophyllous ramification; O, pre-plantar nerve; Q. branch to the patilobe 

 eminence: R, arterial branches; V, vein which is sometimes found running bacii of the 

 plantar nerve. 



the middle part of the lateral cartilage of the foot, under which 

 it passes ; a second, anterior, smaller than the posterior, which is 

 divided toward the middle of the first phalanx, into several 

 branches, ramifying in the tendon and other parts of the anterior 

 region of the foot ; and a thii-d, or middle branch, which goes to 

 the coronary band and podophyllous tissue. The consideration 

 of the relation held by these plantar and digital branches to the 

 blood vessels constitutes an important practical point in the opera- 

 tion. Ai'tery, vein and nerve descend on both sides of the fet- 

 lock, in such a manner that the vein is situated in front, the artery 



