326 HUMAN ANATOMY. 



(c) Ascending, cutaneous branches supply the skin over the gluteus 

 maximus. 



5. The great sciatic nerve,, the largest in the body, passes out 

 of the great sacro-sciatic foramen, and descends between the 

 tuberosity of the ischium and the great trochanter to the lower 

 third of the thigh, where it divides into the internal and external 

 popliteal. It gives off : 



(a) Muscular branches, to the muscles on the inner and posterior 

 aspect of the thigh; 



(b) Articular branches, to the hip- joint. 



The internal 'popliteal, descends through the popliteal space 

 to the arch of the soleus muscle, where it becomes the posterior 

 tibial. It gives off : 



(a) Articular branches, to knee-joint; 



(b) Muscular branches, to the muscles on the posterior aspect of 

 the leg; 



(c) External, or shorf saphenous nerve, passes between the two 

 heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, and descends the leg, receiving the 

 communicans peronei branch from the external popliteal, around the 

 outer malleolus to supply the skin of the outer side of the foot. 



The posterior tibial nerve descends the leg in company with 

 the posterior tibial vessels to below the inner ankle, where it 

 divides into the external and internal plantar nerves. It gives 

 off: 



1. Muscular branches, to the deep muscles of the calf; 



2. Plantar, cutaneous branch, supplies the skin on the inner side 

 of the sole and heel; 



3. Articular branch, to ankle-joint. 



The iaiewral plantar accompanies the corresponding artery 

 to the inner side of the foot and gives off: 



1. Cutaneous branches; 



2. Muscular branches; 



3. Articular branches ; 



4. Four digital branches, supplying both sides of the first three toes 

 and the inner side of the fourth. 



The ffifpTTifil plantar supplies by a superficial branch the 

 outer side of the fourth and both sides of the fifth toes, and gives 

 off a deep, or muscular branch. 



The external popliteal or peroneal nerve descends to the 

 inner side of the biceps tendon, pierces the peroneus longus about 



