378 



PR A CT1CAL AX A TOM 1 '. 



on the two sides. Also trace the plantaris up to its origin and be sure you find 

 its nerve, a branch of the internal popliteal. (Fig. 264.) 



Locate the fibrous arch of the soleus. (Fig. 264.) See passing under the 

 same the popliteal artery, nerve, and vein, now called posterior tibial, as far down 

 as the ankle, having passed under the arch of the soleus. Pull the arch up and 

 cut down between the two heads of the soleus. By cutting in the mid-line of 

 these two muscles you preserve the nerve-supply intact, which nerves it is desired 

 you trace out carefully. You will remember the gastrocnemius, plantaris, soleus, 

 and popliteus are supplied by the internal popliteal ncri'c. (Fig. 264.) Now 

 let your dissection verify the complete distribution of the internal popliteal nerve. 

 Preserve every branch of this nerve. 



On each side of the fibrous arch of the soleus, on the tibia and fibula, you 



i 



Adductor magnus - 



Iliplilnil i-fui 

 Popliteal artery 



INTERNAL POPLITEAL SERVE 



Vaatus internus 



\;.<'/-/G/- internal articular artery 



Tendon of semi-membranosus 



Inner head of gastrocucmius 

 Inferior intf.rnal articular artery 



Pfipliti'ii! !' in 



Popliteus 

 Tendon of plantaris 



Yastua ezternua 



Glti'.A r HCIA TIC NERVE 



Short head of biceps 

 EXTERNAL POPLITEAL SEKVE 



Long head of biceps, cut 

 Outer head of gaatrocnemiuc 



/lMMI\\JCAXS PEROXKI SJWJS 



Gastrocnemiu 



External saphenous vein and nerve 

 FIG. 264. DEEP VIEW OF THE POPLITEAL SPACE. (Ilirschfeld and Leveille.) 



will see the inner and outer heads of this muscle. (Fig. 208.) Divide them 

 carefully one-half of an inch from their origin, and turn the three muscles of the 

 superficial group aside, and figure 266 will represent what you should have. 

 You now have in view these structures : 



1. The posterior tibial nerve and its branches. (Fig. 266.) 



2. The posterior tibial vessels and their branches. (Fig. 266.) 



3. The remaining origins of the plantaris, soleus, and gastrocnemius, and the 

 popliteus muscle, as seen in figure 265. 



4. The tibialis posticus, an extensor muscle of the tarsus. 



5. The flexor longus digitorum muscle a flexor of the four outer toes. 



6. The flexor longus hallucis muscle a flexor of the great toe. 



7. The thin, deep transverse fascia, or deep intermuscular fascia of the leg, 

 which you will now .see covering in all the structures below the popliteus muscle. 



