338 THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



nerve pierces the deep fascia at the junction of the middle 

 and distal thirds of the leg, and either at once or 

 shortly afterwards it divides into a medial and a lateral 

 division, which are quite unnecessarily called the medial and 

 intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerves of the foot, the sural 

 nerve, when it reaches the dorsum of the foot, being called 

 the lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve of the foot to make the 

 series complete. The medial division supplies the medial 

 part of the dorsum of the foot and divides into two branches, 

 one of which is distributed to the medial side of the great 

 toe, and the other to the adjacent sides of the second and 

 third toes; it also gives a communicating twig to the deep 

 peroneal nerve (Fig. 107). The lateral division supplies the 

 intermediate part of the dorsum of the foot, and also divides 

 into two branches, one of which supplies the adjacent sides 

 of the third and fourth toes, and the other, after receiving a 

 twig from the sural nerve, supplies the adjacent sides of the 

 fourth and fifth toes (Fig. 107). The branches of both 

 divisions lie deep to the dorsal venous arch. 



Nervus Suralis. The sural nerve is formed at the back of 

 the leg by the union of the anastomotic branch of the common 

 peroneal nerve with the medial cutaneous nerve of the calf 

 from the tibial nerve (Fig. 163). It accompanies the small 

 saphenous vein, passes behind and below the lateral malleolus, 

 and then runs along the lateral border of the foot, where it 

 gives off a twig to the most lateral branch of the superficial 

 peroneal nerve (Fig. 164), and then runs on to supply the 

 lateral part of the dorsum of the little toe. 



The account given above of the cutaneous nerves of the dorsum of the 

 foot and toes indicates the general arrangement frequently met with, but 

 the dissector must be prepared to meet with many variations, especially on 

 the lateral side, where the sural nerve and the lateral division of the 

 superficial peroneal nerve not uncommonly replace one another to a 

 greater or a less extent. 



Dissection. After the cutaneous veins and nerves of the 

 dorsum of the foot and the front of the leg have been examined, 

 the remains of the fatty superficial fascia must be removed to 

 display the deep fascia. 



Deep Fascia. The deep fascia does not form a complete 

 investment for the leg. It is absent over the medial area of 

 the tibia, and is attached to the anterior and medial borders 

 of that bone. It is also absent over the triangular subcutaneous 

 surface on the distal part of the fibula, being attached to the 



