CIRCULATORY APPARATUS. 97 



divides into the posterior abdominal (epigastric), which passes 

 forward into rectus abdominis muscle, anastomosing with the 

 anterior abdominal and the external pudic, which passes through 

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

 abdomen, and the anterior dorsal artery of the penis. In the 

 female this supplies the mammary gland. 



Projunda, passes back behind adductors and supplies muscles 

 of thigh and coxo-femoral joint. 



Superficial muscular, to anterior crural muscles. 



Small muscular, to muscles, irregular in distribution, one giving 

 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 gastroc- 

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

 a course of eight inches into the anterior and 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. 



Tarsal articular. 



Nutrient artery to tibia. 



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

 sory ligament of the fetlock, anastomosing with the perforating 

 pedal; forming an arch which gives off the external and internal 

 plantar interosseous, which supply the metatarsal region. 



ANTERIOR TIBIAL. 



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

 pedal. It gives off muscular branches and one along fibula, the 

 analogue of the peroneal of man. 



