388 THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



Art. Plantaris Medialis (O.T. Internal Plantar Artery). 

 The medial plantar artery is the smaller of the two terminal 

 branches of the posterior tibial artery. It arises in the hollow 

 between the medial malleolus and the prominence of the 

 calcaneus, under cover of the ligamentum laciniatum. At 

 the distal border of the ligamentum laciniatum it passes 

 under cover of the abductor hallucis ; but, as it proceeds 

 forwards, it appears in the interval between that muscle and 

 the flexor digitorum brevis. Finally, at the root of the great 

 toe, it ends by joining the plantar metatarsal artery to the 

 medial side of the hallux. 



The branches which proceed from the medial plantar artery 

 are small but very numerous. They are (i) three twigs 

 which accompany the digital branches of the medial plantar 

 nerve to the clefts between the medial four toes they 

 end by joining the metatarsal branches of the plantar 

 arch ; (a) a series of cutaneous branches to the skin of the 

 sole, which pierce the aponeurosis in the furrow between its 

 medial and intermediate parts ; (3) a number of branches to 

 the muscles in the vicinity; (4) some offsets which pass 

 medially under cover of the abductor hallucis to reach the 

 medial border of the foot. 



Art. Plantaris Lateralis (O.T. External Plantar Artery). 

 The lateral plantar artery is much larger than the medial 

 plantar. It is accompanied by the lateral plantar nerve and 

 two vena comites. From its origin in the hollow of the calcaneus, 

 under cover of the laciniate ligament, it passes laterally, 

 across the sole, to reach the interval between the flexor 

 digitorum brevis and the abductor digiti quinti. In that 

 interval it is continued forwards for a short distance, and 

 then, at the level of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone, it 

 turns suddenly to the medial side, and crosses the sole a 

 second time, under cover of the flexor tendons and the 

 adductor hallucis, forming the plantar arch. In the present 

 stage of the dissection it is displayed only as far as the base 

 of the fifth metatarsal bone. Between its origin and that 

 point its relations are as follows: (i) it is under cover of 

 the laciniate ligament; (2) it is placed between the abductor 

 hallucis and the hollow of the calcaneus ; (3) it lies between 

 the flexor digitorum brevis and the quadratus plantse ; (4) it 

 occupies the interval between the flexor digitorum brevis and 

 the abductor digiti quinti. In the latter situation it is near 



