350 THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



ment and fasciae. (3) The medial terminal branch of the 

 deep peroneal nerve lies along its lateral side, 1 and two vena 

 comites accompany it. 



As the dorsalis pedis artery traverses the dorsum of the 

 foot it gives off several twigs to the medial margin of the foot, 

 and three named branches which pass laterally : 



1. Aa. tarsese mediales. 



2. A. tarsea lateralis. 



3. A. arcuata. 



4. A. metatarsea dorsalis prima. 



Arterise Tarsese Mediales. The medial tarsal branches 

 two or more in number, spring from the medial side of the 

 dorsalis pedis and descend across the medial border of the 

 foot to anastomose with branches of the medial plantar 

 artery. 



A. Tarsea Lateralis et A. Arcuata (O.T. Tarsal and 

 Metatarsal). The lateral tarsal artery arises opposite the 

 navicular bone, and the arcuate artery arises near the bases of 

 the metatarsal bones. They both run laterally, under cover of 

 the extensor hallucis brevis and the extensor digitorum 

 brevis, to reach the lateral margin of the foot. There they 

 anastomose with branches of the lateral plantar artery. The 

 lateral tarsal artery anastomoses also with the lateral malleolar 

 and peroneal arteries. 



From the arch which is formed by the arcuate artery 

 three dorsal metatarsal arteries proceed, one to each of the 

 lateral three interosseous spaces, and at the clefts between 

 the toes they divide and supply dorsal digital twigs to the 

 adjacent sides of the second, third, fourth, and fifth toes. 

 From the most lateral dorsal metatarsal artery a twig is given 

 to the lateral side of the little toe. 



A. Metatarsea Dorsalis Prima (O.T. First Dorsal Interos- 

 seous). The first dorsal metatarsal artery is a small vessel 

 which takes origin from the dorsalis pedis, at the point where 

 that vessel turns plantarwards to reach the plantar region of 

 the foot. From its origin it continues forwards, upon the 

 first dorsal interosseous muscle, and divides into dorsal digital 

 branches for the medial side of the great toe and the adjacent 

 sides of the great toe and second toe. 2 



Perforating Branch of Peroneal Artery (O.T. Anterior 



1 The nerve sometimes descends along its medial side. 

 ' 2 For the branches from the dorsalis pedis in the plantar region see p. 398. 



