PLANTAR FASCIA. 615 



Dissection. The fat should be now removed, and the plantar fascia 

 laid bare. Beginning the dissection near the heel, follow forwards the 

 fascia towards the toes, to each of which a process is to be traced. In the 

 intervals between those processes the digital nerves and arteries will be 

 detected amongst much fatty and fibrous tissues ; but the vessels and 

 nerves to the inner side of the great toe and outer side of the little toe, 

 pierce the fascia farther back than the rest. 



The student is next to define a transverse fibrous band between the 

 toes, over the digital vessels and nerves ; and when this has been dis- 

 played, he may remove the superficial fascia from the toes to see the 

 sheaths of the tendons. 



PLANTAR FASCIA. The special fascia of the sole of the foot is of a 

 pearly-white color and great strength, and sends septa between the mus- 

 cles. Its thickness varies in different parts of the foot ; and from this cir- 

 cumstance, and the existence of longitudinal depressions over the two 

 chief intermuscular septa, the fascia is divided into a central and two 

 lateral parts. 



The central part, which is much the thickest, is pointed at its attach- 

 ment to the os calcis, but widens and becomes thinner as it extends for- 

 wards. A slight depression, corresponding with an intermuscular septum, 

 marks its limit on each side : and opposite the heads of the metatarsal 

 bones it divides into five processes, which send fibres to the teguments 

 near the web of the foot, and are continued onwards to the toes, one to 

 each. Where the pieces separate from each other, the digital vessels and 

 nerves and the lumbricales muscles become superficial ; and transverse 

 fibres arch over them. 



If one of the digital processes be divided longitudinally, and its parts 

 reflected to the sides, it will be seen to join the sheath of the flexor ten- 

 dons, and to be fixed laterally into the margins of the metatarsal bone, 

 and into the transverse metatarsal ligament. 



The lateral pieces of the fascia are thinner than the central one. On 

 the inner margin of the foot the fascia has but little strength, and is con- 

 tinued to the dorsum ; but on the outer side it is increased in thickness, 

 and presents a strong band between the os calcis and the projection of the 

 fifth metatarsal bone. 



Dissection. To examine the septa, a longitudinal incision may be 

 made along the middle of the foot through the central piece of the fascia, 

 and a transverse one near the calcaneum. On detaching the fascia from 

 the subjacent flexor brevis digitorum, by carrying the scalpel from before 

 backwards, the septal processes will appear on the sides of that muscle. 



The intermuscular septa pass down on the sides of the flexor brevis 

 digitorurn, and a piece of fascia reaches across the foot from the one 

 septum to the other, beneath that flexor, so as to isolate it. 



The inner septum lies between the short flexor and the abductor pol- 

 licis ; and the internal plantar nerve and vessels, and the tendon of the 

 flexor pollicis longus, pass through it. 



The outer partition between the short flexor and the abductor minimi 

 digiti, is pierced by the digital nerve and vessels for the outer side of the 

 little toe. 



The superficial transverse ligament crosses the roots of the toes, and is 

 contained in the skin forming the rudimentary web of the foot. It is 

 attached at the ends to the sheath of the flexor tendons of the great and 



