SOLE OF THE FOOT 



393 



Calcaneus 



Quaclratus plantae 

 (O.T. accessorius) 



between it and the bone, but at the middle of the phalanx 

 the tendon of the short flexor is perforated by the tendon of 

 the long flexor, which passes forwards to be inserted into the 

 base of the terminal phalanx, whilst the tendon of the short 

 flexor, beyond the perforation, splits into two parts which are 

 attached to the margins of the second phalanx. 



The osteo-fibrous canal is lined with a mucous sheath, 

 which not only facilitates 

 the play of the tendons, 

 when the muscles are in 

 action, but also forms folds 

 called vincula which aid 

 in attaching the tendons to 

 the bones. 



There are two sets of 

 vincula, short and long. 

 Two short vincula are 

 present in each sheath. 

 They are short triangular 

 folds containing some 

 yellow elastic tissue. One 

 of them connects the ten- 

 don of the long flexor to 

 the plantar ligament of the 

 terminal interphalangeal 

 joint and the adjacent part 

 of the second phalanx, and 

 the other connects the 

 tendon of the short flexor 

 in a similar manner to the 

 plantar ligament of the first 

 interphalangeal joint and 



to the adjacent part of the first phalanx. The condition is 

 exactly similar to that found in the fingers (Fig. 72). The 

 vincula longa are more slender, they are irregular in number 

 and position. 



Tendon of the Flexor Hallucis Longus. After giving its 

 slip to the tendon of the flexor digitorum longus, the tendon 

 of the flexor hallucis longus is prolonged forwards to the 

 great toe. On the plantar aspect of the hallux it is retained 

 in place by a fibrous flexor sheath, and, finally, it is inserted 

 into the base of the terminal phalanx. 



Lumbricals 



FIG. 172. Second layer of Muscles and 

 Tendons in the Sole of the Foot. 



