280 THE VASCULAR SYSTEMS 



trrnal gives a branch to the internal vastus, joining anastomotica 

 and inferior articular, and another to the knee-joint, and also 

 unites with the inferior articular. 



(d) The azygos articular pierces the posterior ligament to the 

 joint. 



(e) Articular inferior wind around the tibia below the joint. 

 They are external and internal, and anastomose with the tibia! 

 recurrent, anastomotica, and other articular branches. 



The anterior tibial artery runs from the lower border of the 

 popliteus, between the heads of the tibialis posticus and above 

 the interosseous membrane, to the front of the leg, then descends 

 as far as the ankle, ending in the dorsalis pedis. 



Relations. In front, integument, fascia, tibialis anticus, exten- 

 sores proprius pollicis and longus digitorum, anterior tibial 

 nerve; behind, interosseous membrane, tibia, anterior tibiotarsa! 

 ligament; outer side, extensores proprius pollicis and longus 

 digitorum, anterior tibial nerve; inner side, tibialis anticus, 

 tendons of extensor proprius pollicis below. 



Its branches are: 



(a) The recurrent tibial, through the tibialis anticus to the 

 knee, joins other articular arteries. 



(6) The muscular, to the muscles and skin: very numerous. 



(c) The malleolar, to the ankle-joint. Internal joins corre- 

 sponding branches of the posterior tibial; external joins the tarsal 

 and anterior peroneal. 



The dorsalis pedis is the continuation of the anterior tibial, 

 and runs from the bend of the ankle to the first interosseous 

 space, where it divides into the dorsal IN hallucix and plantar 

 digital. 



Its branches are: 



(a) The tarsal. 



(6) The metatarsal, over the bases of the metatarsal bones, 

 joins the tarsal and external plantar, and gives off three dorsal 

 interosseous arteries which run in the outer three intermeta tarsal 

 spaces, each dividing opposite the metatarsophalangeal joint 

 into two dorsal digital branches. These arteries anastomose at 

 back part of spaces with the posterior perforating, and at front 

 part with the anterior perforating. 



(c) The dorsalis hallucis lies along the first intermetatarsal 

 space, and supplies both sides of the great toe and the inner side 

 of the second dorsally. 



