398 THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



run forwards opposite the second, third, and fourth inter- 

 metatarsal spaces, pass dorsal to the transverse head of the 

 adductor hallucis, and, at the proximal end of the corre- 

 sponding interdigital cleft, each plantar metatarsal artery ends 

 by dividing into two branches which supply the adjacent 

 sides of the digits bounding the cleft. The branches of 

 the second plantar metatarsal artery supply the adjacent 

 sides of the second and third toes ; those of the third 

 supply the adjacent sides of the third and fourth toes ; 

 and those of the fourth the adjacent sides of the fourth and 

 fifth toes. 



Immediately before it divides, each plantar metatarsal 

 artery sends dorsally an anterior perforating artery which 

 joins the corresponding dorsal metatarsal artery. 



Upon the sides of the toes the plantar digital branches of 

 the metatarsal arteries are distributed in exactly the same 

 manner as the digital arteries of the fingers (see p. 155). 



The plantar metatarsal branch to the lateral border of the 

 little toe springs from the lateral extremity of the plantar arch, 

 crosses the plantar surface of the flexor digiti quinti brevis, 

 and runs forwards to the distal end of the toe. 



The First Plantar Metatarsal Artery (O.T. Arteria 

 Magna Hallucis) corresponds with the arteria volaris indicis 

 radialis and the arteria princeps pollicis of the hand. It arises 

 from the plantar extremity of the dorsalis pedis, at the point 

 where the latter joins the plantar arch, and runs forwards to 

 the cleft between the great toe and the second toe, where 

 it divides into two branches for the supply of the adjacent 

 sides of the first and second toes. Before it divides, it gives 

 off a branch to the medial side of the great toe which is 

 joined by the terminal part of the medial plantar artery. 



Deep Division of the Lateral Plantar Nerve. The deep 

 division of the lateral plantar nerve accompanies the plantar 

 arch in its course medialwards across the sole. It lies 

 posterior to the arch, and ends in the deep surface of the 

 oblique head of the adductor hallucis. In addition to that 

 muscle it supplies all the interosseous muscles (with the 

 exception of those in the fourth space), the transverse head of 

 the adductor hallucis, and the lateral three lumbrical muscles. 

 The twig to the second lumbrical takes a recurrent course 

 round the anterior border of the transverse head of the 

 adductor hallucis. 



