640 



CIRCULATORY SYSTEM OF THE DOG 



femoral nerve, dips in between the rectus femoris and vastus internus. The ex- 

 ternal circumflex artery passes forward between the sartorius internally and the 

 rectus femoris and tensor fasciae latse externally and supplies branches to these 

 muscles and the glutei. In addition to muscular branches of considerable size, 

 an articular branch (A. genu suprema) arises a little below the middle of the thigh 

 and runs downward and forward to the inner face of the stifle joint. The saphenous 

 artery is large. It arises from the inner surface of the femoral a little below the 

 middle of the femur, descends superficially to the upper part of the leg and divides 

 into two branches. The smaller anterior branch (Ramus dorsalis) passes obliquely 



Fig. 493. — Arteries of Distal, Part of Right Hind 

 Limb of Dog, Anterior View. 

 a. External branch of anterior tibial artery; 

 b, anterior tibial artery; c, sai)henous artery (anterior 

 branch); d, perforating metatarsal artery; e, dorsal 

 metatarsal arteries; /, deep dorsal metatarsal arteries; 

 g, superficial dorsal metatarsal arteries; h, anastomoses 

 between dorsal and jjlantar arteries; i, common 

 digital arteries; 3, proper digital arteries. 



Fig. 494. — Arteries of Distal Part or Right Hind 

 Limb of Dog, Posterior View. 

 A-, Saphenous artery (posterior branch); I, V, 

 internal and external plantar arteries; m, perforating 

 metatarsal artery; n, deep plantar metatarsal arteries; 

 o, superficial plantar metatarsal arteries; p, common 

 digital artery; q, proper tligital arteries. 



downward and forward across the inner surface of the tibia to the flexion surface of 

 th(> hock and terminates in three superficial dorsal metatarsal arteries. The poste- 

 rior branch (Ramus plantaris) passes down on the inner face of the gastrocnemius 

 and the long digital flexor. It gives off a branch (A. tarsea lateralis) which descends 

 obliquely to the external surface of the tarsus, and at the posterior face of the tarsus 

 detaches the internal and external plantar arteries ; these descend on either side 

 of the deep flexor tendon and unite with tiie perforating metatarsal artery to form 

 the proximal plantar arch. The artery continues down the middle of the plantar 

 surface of the metatarsus and divides near the metacarpo-phalangeal joints into 



