128 The Alligator and Its Allies 



muscle, (b) Caput internum: this springs without 

 a tendon from the whole posterior surface of the 

 upper half of the tibia, sometimes, as in crocodiles, 

 uniting with the caput femoralis of the gastro- 

 cnemius muscle. The common tendon splits into 

 three points for the first, second, and third toes. 



Tibialis Posticus (Plate V., Fig. 2, tib. post.) 

 (Jambier posterieur, Hinterer Schienbeinmuskel). 

 Originates without tendon from the whole fibular 

 side of the tibia, on the one hand, and from the 

 whole inner and forward side of the fibula on the 

 other hand, occupying the whole space between 

 these two bones on the hinder side of the lower 

 leg. At its proximal end it is united with the 

 caput internum of the preceding muscle which 

 completely covers it from behind. It narrows 

 down to a very strong tendon which divides into 

 two equally strong, round tendons; of these the 

 one on the tibial side is inserted on the basis ossis 

 of the first metacarpal, the one towards the fibula 

 goes immediately to the second metacarpal. 



Interosseus Cruris (Kniekehlmuskel). A small 

 muscle stretching between the distal ends of the 

 fibula and tibia with almost transverse fibers; it 

 is covered dorsally by the tibio-fibulare ligament 

 and appears as a distal division of the tibialis 

 posticus muscle. 



Flexor Digitoriim Brevis (Flexor longus acces- 

 sorius, Flexor brevis perforatus) . Springs from the 

 bones of the foot and from the strong tendon of the 



