448* 



ARTERIES. 



Fig. 233. Surgical Anatomy of the Anterior 

 Tibial and Dorsalis Pedis Arteries. 



The branches of the anterior tibial artery are the 



Recurrent tibial. 



Muscular. 



Internal malleolar. 



External malleolar. 

 The recurrent branch arises from the 

 anterior tibial, as soon as that vessel has 

 passed through the interosseous space ; it 

 ascends in the Tibialis anticus muscle, 

 and ramifies on the front ^and sides of the 

 knee-joint, anastomosing with the articular 

 branches of the popliteal. 



The 'muscular branches are numerous ; 

 they are distributed to the muscles which 

 lie on either side of the vessel, some 

 piercing the deep fascia to supply the 

 integument, others passing through the 

 interosseous membrane, and anastomosing 

 with branches of the posterior tibial and 

 peroneal arteries. 



The malleolar arteries supply the ankle- 

 joint. 



The internal arises about two inches 

 above the articulation, passes beneath the 

 tendon of the Tibialis anticus to the inner 

 ankle, upon which it ramifies, anastomos- 

 ing with branches of the posterior tibial 

 and internal plantar arteries. 



The external passes beneath the ten- 

 dons of the Extensor longus digitorum 

 and Extensor proprius pollicis, and sup- 

 plies the outer ankle, anastomosing with 

 the anterior peroneal artery, and with 

 ascending branches from the tarsea branch 

 of the dorsalis pedis. 



DORSALIS PEDIS AETEBY. 



The Dorsalis Pedis, the continuation of 

 the anterior tibial, passes forwards from 

 the bend of the ankle along the tibial side 

 of the foot to the back part of the first 

 interosseous space, where it divides into 

 two branches, the dorsalis hallucis and 

 communicating. 



Relations. This vessel, in its course for- 

 wards, rests upon the astragalus, scaphoid, 

 and internal cuneiform bones, and the 

 ligaments connecting them, being covered 

 by the integument and fascia, and crossed 

 near its termination by the innermost 

 tendon of the Extensor brevis digitorum. 

 On its tibial side is the tendon of the 

 Extensor proprius pollicis ; on itsfibular 

 side, the innermost tendon of the Extensor 

 longus digitorum. It is accompanied by 

 two veins, and by the anterior tibial nerve, 

 which lies on its outer side. 



