CIRCULATORY APPARATUS. 97 



divides into the posterior abdominal (epigastric), which passes 

 forward into rectus abdominis muscle, anastomosing with the an- 

 terior abdominal and the external pi/ die, which passes through 

 the inguinal canal, and divides into a subcutaneous vessel on the 

 abdoman, and the anterior dorsal artei-y of the penis. In the 

 female this supplies the mammary gland. 



Profunda, passes back behind adductors and supplies muscles 

 of thigh and coxo femoral joint. 



Supeifeial muscular^ to anterior crural muscles. 



Small muscular, to muscles, irregular in distribution, one giv- 

 ing off the nutrient vessel to femur, the largest in the body. 



Saphena, accompanies the saphena vein to inner side of leg, 

 thigh, and back. 



POPLITEAL. 



From opening in adductor magnus, passes beneath the gastro- 

 cnemii and popliteus, and bifurcates at the tibio-fibular arch after 

 a course of eight inches into the anterior d^XiA posterior tibials. 



Branches. 



Articular^ to femoro-tibial joint. 



Muscular, to muscles of ham ; one follows great femoro-popli- 

 teal nerve. 



Femoro-popliteal, passes backward and supplies muscles and 

 nerves. 



POSTERIOR TIBIAL. 



From end of popliteal to side of astragalus, where it divides 

 into the two plantar arteries. 



Branches. 



Muscular. 



Tai'sal articular. 



Nutrient aj'tery to tibia. 



Plantar, lie along tendon of perforans, and end at the sus- 

 pensory ligament of the fetlock, anastomosing with the perforat- 

 ing pedal; forming an arch ^\\\ch. gives off the external and in- 

 ternal plantar interosseous, which supply the metatarsal region. 



ANTERIOR TIBIAL. 



Along front of tibia to tibio-tarsal joint, where it becomes 

 \h.t pedal. It gives off muscular branches and one along fibula, 

 the analogue of ih^ perojieal oi man. 



