THE LEG 



335 



The veins which will be met with in it during the 

 dissection are : 



1. The dorsal digital veins of the 



toes. 



2. The dorsal venous arch. 



3. The distal part of the great 



saphenous vein. 



4. The distal part of the small 



saphenous vein. 



The cutaneous nerves or their branches which should be 

 secured as they pass through the superficial fascia are : 



1. N. cutaneus surse lateralis. 



2. N. suralis. 



3. N. saphenus. 



4. N. peronseus superficialis. 



5. N. peronseus profundus. 



Dissection. The lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf was 

 displayed in the dissection of the popliteal space, arising from the 

 common peroneal nerve or in common with the peroneal anasto- 

 motic branch. Trace it now to its termination on the antero- 

 lateral aspect of the leg. 



After the lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf has been traced 

 to its termination, the cutaneous veins should be dissected, for, on 

 the dorsum of the foot, they lie more superficially than the nerves, 

 and in other situations they serve as guides to the positions of 

 some of the nerves. Commence with the dorsal venous arch 

 of the foot. It lies opposite the anterior parts of the bodies of 

 the metatarsal bones and is usually visible, after the skin has 

 been reflected, in at least part of its extent. Follow it medially 

 to the medial border of the foot, where it joins with the medial 

 dorsal digital vein of the great toe to form the commencement 

 of the great saphenous vein. Next follow the great saphenous 

 vein upwards, in front of the medial malleolus and obliquely 

 across the medial surface of the distal third of the tibia to the 

 medial border of the tibia. The remainder of the great saphenous 

 vein will be displayed when the medial sural region is dissected, 

 therefore do not follow it further at present, but secure the 

 distal part of the saphenous nerve, which lies close to it, and 

 follow the nerve to the middle of the medial border of the foot, 

 where it ends. When the dissection of the saphenous nerve 

 is completed follow the dorsal venous arch laterally to the 

 lateral margin of the foot, where it unites with the lateral dorsal 

 digital vein of the little toe to form the small saphenous vein. 

 Follow the small saphenous vein backwards below the lateral 

 malleolus and there secure the sural nerve, which lies adjacent 

 to the vein. Follow the sural nerve forwards. About the 

 middle of the lateral border of the foot it gives a twig of com- 

 munication, to a branch of the lateral division of the superficial 

 peroneal nerve, and then continues onwards to the lateral part 

 of the dorsal aspect of the little toe. Follow it to its termination. 

 Now clean the dorsal digital veins which join the convex anterior 

 border of the dorsal venous arch. They are four in number, 

 one opposite each interdigital cleft. Follow them to the clefts, 

 and trace their tributaries into the toes. The terminal part 

 of the superficial peroneal nerve must now be secured. If either 

 the communicating twig from the saphenous nerve to the most 



