VEINS OF THE FOOT. 57 



minister to the nutrition of the pedal bone, but a number, 

 termed the anterior laminal arteries, escape from the bone by 

 the numerous foramina piercing its anterior surface, and supply 

 the sensitive laminae. 



Others again, known as the inferior communicating, pass out- 

 wards through the eight to twelve or more little channels open- 

 ing on the external surface of the os pedis, just above its inferior 

 margin (fig. 36, f), run chiefly downwards, and unite with twigs 

 given off by the preplantar artery, forming a more or less well- 

 marked vessel, which encircles the lower border of the pedal 

 bone, and is termed the circumflex artery of the toe (fig. 36,/^'). 

 From this twigs pass backwards over the lower surface of the 

 foot, supplying chiefly the sensitive sole (fig. ?>7,f"). 



2. The Veix\s. 



After the blood has traversed the capillaries, which in the 

 horn-secreting structures are somewhat large, it is collected into 

 another series of vessels, which form several superimposed 

 net-w"orks, and are so intimately connected one with another 

 tliat its return by one path, if for any reason impeded, can 

 always be effected by numerous alternative channels. The 

 blood brought to the foot by the arteries finally arrives in a 

 large vein, which runs parallel with the digital artery, and is 

 termed the digital vein (figs. 36 and 37, A). This vein is formed 

 by— 



(1) The solar plexus (fig. 37, D), the net-work of small 

 veins which closely cover the under surface of the foot, 

 aided by those from the plantar cushion and sensitive bars. 

 It discharges partly through the net-work formed by the veins 

 of the plantar cushion (solar plexus) (fig. 37, B), partly through 

 that formed by the deep coronary vein which collects the 

 blood from the inner face of the lateral cartilage (fig. 38, E), 

 and possibly through the coronary plexus, with all of which it 

 is in direct communication. 



(2) The laminal plexus (fig. 36, C) resembles, in most re- 

 spects, that of the sole. The blood which it contains is either 

 discharged into the coronary plexus, or makes its return by 

 the circumflex vein of the sole. 



The venous net-work of the sensitive sole (solar plexus) and 



