THE ARTERIES. 113 



the tibia for its lower one-third. It is accompanied by the anterior tibial nerve 

 close to it externally, and is crossed below by the tendon of the extensor pro- 

 prius pollicis. Its branches are 



Rectirrent TibiaL Musc^dar. External and Internal Malleolar, 



Describe the Dorsalis Pedis Artery. It is the continuation of the ante- 

 rior tibial, extending from the front of the ankle-joint to the 1st interosseous 

 space, where it terminates in the Dorsalis Hallucis and the Communicating. 

 The anterior tibial nerve lies close to its outer side. Its branches are as 

 follows : 



Tarsea, passing outwards along the tarsus. 



Metatarsea, giving off 3 interossese, and they 7 digital. 



Dorsalts Hallucis, to the great toe and the inner side of the second toe by 

 its 3 digital branches. 



Communicating, which dips down into the sole of the foot in the 1st inter- 

 osseous space of the metatarsus, to inosculate with the external plantar; 

 and gives off 2 digital branches, to the plantar surface of the great and 

 second toes. 



Describe the Posterior Tibial Artery. It is a large vessel, extending 

 from the bifurcation of the popliteal along the back of the tibia to the fossa 

 below the inner malleolus, where it divides into the Internal and External 

 Plantar. The posterior tibial nerve crosses it a short way below its origin and 

 then lies close to its outer side for the rest of its course. Its branches are as 

 follows : 



Peroneal, along the fibular side, giving off the anterior peroneal, muscular 

 branches, and the nutrient artery of the fibula. 



Nutrient of the Tibia, the largest nutrient artery of bone. 



Musctilar Branches, to the posterior muscles of the leg. 



Communicating, a branch to the peroneal artery. 



Internal Calcanean Branches, to the heel and sole of the foot 



Describe the Internal Plantar. This artery is the smallest of the termi- 

 nating branches of the posterior tibial, and passes along the inner side of the 

 foot and great toe. 



Describe the External Plantar Artery. It sweeps across the plantar 

 aspect of the foot in a curve, the convexity of which is directed outwards and 

 forwards; and at the interval between the bases of the ist and 2d metatarsal 

 bones it inosculates with the communicating branch from the dorsalis pedis, 

 forming the Plantar Arch, or the Stirrup Anastomosis. It gives off numerous 

 muscular branches, and the 



Posterior Perforating, 3 small branches passing through the 3 outer interos - 

 seous spaces. 



10* H 



