372 THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



posterior osteo-fascial compartment, and from the distal part of 

 the interosseous membrane, to both of which it is attached. 

 As the fibula is approached the peroneal branch of the posterior 

 tibial artery will be found descending between the flexor hallucis 

 longus and the posterior surface of the second fascial septum, 

 which separates it from the tibialis posterior. Trace the artery 

 distally. Below the level of the origin of the tibialis posterior 

 it lies on the posterior surface of the interosseous membrane, 

 and immediately above the distal tibio-fibular joint it gives off 

 the perforating branch, which was seen in the dissection of the 

 dorsum of the foot (p. 350). Now pull the distal part of the 

 flexor hallucis longus medially and follow the distal part of the 

 peroneal artery behind the ankle joint and along the medial 

 side of the peronaei tendons to the lateral side of the calcaneus. 

 In order to expose its terminal branches the peroneal retinacula 

 must be divided, and it may be necessary to displace the peroneal 

 tendons. 



Termination of the Popliteal Artery. The termination of 

 the popliteal artery, which was concealed by the proximal 

 border of the soleus, is now fully exposed. It ends at the 

 distal border of the popliteus, where it divides into its two 

 terminal branches, the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. 

 At the same point the venae comites of the anterior and 

 posterior tibial arteries join to form the commencement of 

 the popliteal vein. 



Arteria Tibialis Anterior. The anterior tibial artery passes 

 forwards, between the two heads of the tibialis posterior 

 muscle, to the anterior region of the leg, where it has already 

 been dissected. Whilst still in the back of the leg the 

 anterior tibial artery gives off a posterior recurrent tibial 

 and a fibular branch. The posterior tibial recurrent is a 

 small twig which is not always present. It runs proximally, 

 under cover of the popliteus muscle, to the back of the knee 

 joint. The fibular branch runs laterally, on the neck of the 

 fibula, and is distributed to the muscles and integument in 

 that neighbourhood. 



Arteria Tibialis Posterior. The posterior tibial artery is 

 the larger of the two terminal branches of the popliteal trunk. 

 It takes origin a't the distal border of the popliteus muscle and 

 ends, by dividing into the lateral and medial plantar arteries 

 in the hollow on the medial side of the calcaneus, under 

 cover of the ligamentum laciniatum. In the first instance 

 the artery is placed, between the two bones of the leg, upon 

 the fascia covering the posterior surface of the tibialis posterior 

 muscle ; but, as it passes distally it inclines gradually medially, 



