PLANTAR PULMONARY. 



453 



interossei muscles, and anastomose with the interosseous branches from the meta- 

 tarsal artery. 



The Digital Branches are four in number, and supply the three outer toes and 

 half the second toe. The first passes outwards from the outer side of the plantar arch, 

 and is distributed to the outer side of the little toe, passing in its course beneath 

 the Abductor and short Flexor muscles. The second, third, and fourth run for- 

 wards along the metatarsal spaces, and, on arriving at the clefts between the toes, 

 divide into collateral branches, which supply the adjacent sides of the three outer 

 toes and the outer side of the second. At the bifurcation of the toes, each digital 

 artery sends upwards, through the fore part of the corresponding metatarsal space, 

 a small branch, which inosculates with the interosseous branches of the metatarsal 

 artery. These are the anterior perforating branches. 



Fig. 234. The Plantar Arteries. 

 Superficial View. 



Fig. 235. The Plantar Arteries. 

 Deep View. 



From the arrangement already described of the distribution of the vessels to 

 the toes, it will be seen that both sides of the three outer toes, and the outer side 

 of the second toe, are supplied by branches from the plantar arch ; both sides of the 

 great toe, and the inner side of the second, being supplied by the dorsal artery of 

 the foot. 



PULMONARY ARTERY. 



The Pulmonary Artery conveys the venous blood from the right side of the heart 

 to the lungs. It is a short wide vessel, about two inches in length, arising from 

 the left side of the base of the right ventricle, in front of the ascending aorta. 

 It ascends obliquely upwards, backwards, and to the left side, as far as the under 

 surface of the arch of the aorta, where it divides into two branches of nearly 

 equal size, the right and left pulmonary arteries. 



Relations. The greater part of this vessel is contained, together with the 

 ascending part of the arch of the aorta, in the pericardium, being inclosed with it 

 in a tube of serous membrane, continued upwards from the base of the heart, 



