ARTEPJES OF THE FOOT. 55 



which, it is fastened by connective tissue. In front i.s placed 

 the vein of the same name ; behind it the digital nerve. About 

 the middle of the os suffracjinis it mves off: — 



(a) The sufFraginal artery. This is a very short vessel, 

 which runs at right angles to the digital artery, and almost 

 immediately divides into two twigs. 



(aa) The perpendicular artery (the German term means 

 anterior suffraginal artery) (tig. 36, h) runs forward, and divides 

 into a short and a long twig : the former running upwards, 

 the latter downwards. Both anastomose freelv with the similar 

 artery of the opposite side. They are distributed to the ex- 

 tensor tendon, the skin and the fetlock joint. The lower twig 

 assists in supplying blood to the perioplic and coronary bands. 



(hh) The posterior suffraginal artery. This is one of Bouley's 

 rameaux dchelonn^s (fig. 38, 5), passes backward and supplies 

 the flexor tendons and their synovial sheaths, the inferior 

 sesamoidean ligament, the suffraginis bone, etc., and anastomoses 

 with its fellow of the opposite side. 



ih) The artery of the plantar cushion (figs. 37 and 38, c) arises 

 at about the lower end of the os suffraginis, runs backwards 

 and downwards below the centre line of the foot, and oives off 

 numerous branches in the plantar cushion, and especially in the 

 sensitive frog. In addition, it sends twigs to the sensitive bars. 



(c) About the middle of the coronet bone there arise from 

 the digital artery, sometimes together, sometimes separately — 



{aa) The anterior coronary artery, or anterior artery of the 

 coronary band (fig. 36, d). This is the larger branch of the two, 

 and chiefiy supplies the coronary band. It anastomoses with 

 its fellow of the other side, forming a very complete net-work 

 termed the coronary circle. 



(hh) The posterior artery of the coronet bone (fig. 38, d), or 

 posterior artery of the coronary circle, .which passes backwards, 

 unites with its fellow of the opposite side, forming a net-work, 

 and supplies the synovial membrane of the coronary and pedal 

 joints, the coronet bone, flexor tendons, ligaments, and skin.* 



* Professor Mettam regards the arteries to the coronary band as derived in front 

 from the coronary circle and behind from the artery to the phmtar cushion. The 

 arteries from the coronaiy circle are two descending on either side of the extensor 

 pedis tendon. They divide, right and left branches uniting, and the efl'erents 

 from the artery to the plantar cushion doing the same, and uniting with branches 

 from the others, a circumflex artery of the band is formed. — [Jno. A. W. D.] 



