MUSCLES OF THE POSTERIOR LIMBS. 373 



the cuboido-scaphoid bone. It is finally insertc'l into the deep f.ice of the second cuneiform 

 boue, and the external side of the superior extremity of the metatarsus, by a small branch 

 detached from the outer side of the principal tendon. 



All these muscles are similarly disposed in the Sheep and Goat. 



B. Pig.— The anterior til>ial muscles of this animal resemble those of Ruminants, with the 

 exception of some peculiarities of secondary importance, among which the following may be 

 cited : 



The muscular fasciculus which replaces the flexor metatarsi in the Horse, terminates on the 

 scaphoid and the second cum ifoi in bone. The common extensor of the dujits has four tendons — 

 one for each dit;it. The proper extensors have two each — one for the small digit, and the other 

 for the great. The anterior tibial passes to the second cuneiform bone. The peroneus longus 

 lateralis \^ inserted, by its tendon, into the upper extremity of the internal metatarsus. 



C. Carnivora.— Four muscles are described in these animals : I. An anterior tibial. 2. 

 A long common extensor of the digits. 3. A long lateral peroneus. 4. A short lateral 

 peroneus. 



1. Anterior tibial. — Situated in front of the tibia, and more voluminous than the common 

 extensor of the digits, the superior extirmity of which it covers, this muscle has its origin on 

 the crest autl external tuberosity of the tibia. It receives, near the inferior third of this bone, 

 an extremely thin muscular band which proceeds from tiie fibula, and which we may with 

 justice compare to the proper extensor of (he big toe in Man. Then it terminates by a tendon 

 on the metatarsal bone of the internal digit ; when this bone is connected with a digital 

 region, the third phalanx receives a partienhir branch from this tendon, whicli represents the 

 tendinous portion of the small proper extensor fasciculus annexed to the anterior tibial. This 

 muscle responds: in front, to the tibial aponeurosis; inwards and backwards, to the tibia; 

 outwards, to the common extensf)r of tlie digits. Its tendon is fixed in the tend of the bock 

 by a fibrous band, the arrangement of which is singular enongh to deserve mention here. 

 Attached in front of the inferior extremity of the tibia, this baud gives origin, by its internal 

 extremity, to a strong ligament which passes under the tendon of tiie anterior tibial muscle to 

 reach the anterior face of the tarsus, where it unites closely with the capsidar ligament of this 

 region, and terminates on the superior extremity of the metatarsal bone of the middle digit. 

 This ligament binds the inferior extremity of the tibia to tiie metatarsus, and prevents undue 

 extension of the tibio-tarsal articulation. It is, perhaps, the representative ot the tendon of 

 the anterior tibial region in the Horse. 



2. Long commim extensor of the digits. — This muscle is composed of a fusiform fleshy body, 

 and a quadrifurcated temlon. The fleshy body, situated ben( ath the tibial aponeurosis, 

 between the anterior tibial and the lateral peroneal muscles, covers tiie external face of the 

 tibia and the small fasciculus of the proper extensor of the thumb; it originates by a short 

 and strong tendon, from the inferior extremity of the femur, between the external condyle and 

 the trochlea. Tlie tendon is continuous with the inferior extremity of the fleshy portion, 

 passes beneath the band of the anterior tibial, through another fibrous ring at the cuboid bone, 

 and is inserted, by its four terminal branches, into the four large digits, in the same manner 

 as the analogous tendon in the fore limb. 



3. Long lateral peroneus. — This muscle is composed of a very short, conical, fleshy portion, 

 succeeded by a long tendon. Tne former originates in front of the tuberosity of the supero- 

 external tuberosity of the tibia, and does not appear to have any connectinu with the fibula. 

 Included between the common extensor of the digits and the short lateral peroneus, it is 

 covered by the tibial aponeurosis, and covers the anterior tibial vessels. The tendon descends 

 parallel with the fibula to its inferior extremity, over which it glides in becoming inflected. 

 On reaching the cuboides, t enters a groove excavated on its external surface, gives off a short 

 isolated branch to the superior extremity of the first metatarsal bme, afterwards crosses trans- 

 versely the direction of the tarsus in passing behind the inferior row of bones, and terminates 

 on the metatarsus of the thumb. On its way, behind the cuboides, this tendon gives oiF another 

 branch, which we have every rcMSon to believe is constantly present; it is a short, interosseous 

 fasciculus, that at first penetrates between the cuboides and the external metatarsal bone, then 

 between the latter and the second metatarsal. 



This muscle carries the inferior extremity of the limb outwards, and when the foot Is much 

 extended it may act as a flexor. 



4. Sliort lateral peroneus. — In Carnivora. this muscle is formed by two fasciculi — a superior 

 and inferior, which may be described as two distinct muscles. 



The superior fasciculus is a very weak muscular portion, attached to the upper third of the 

 anterior border of the fibula, and a funicular tendon succeeding its inferior extremity about 

 the middle of the tibia. This tendon glides over the inferior extremity of the fibula, behind 



