THE LOWER EXTREMITY, ANTERIOR. 595 



The Dorsalis Pedis Artery. Fig. 125. 



This is the continuation of the anterior tibial from the 

 front of the ankle, along the front of the foot, to the space 

 between the first and second metatarsal bones, where it ter- 

 minates by dividing into the dorsalis hallucis and the deep 

 communicating artery. 



In its course it passes between the tendons of the exten- 

 sor proprius hallucis and the extensor longus digitorum, 

 and is crossed near its termination by the inner tendon of 

 the extensor brevis digitorum. 



The venae comites lie upon either side of the artery, and 

 the anterior tibial nerve at its outer side. 



The course of the dorsalis pedis is indicated by a line 

 drawn from the mid-point between the malleoli to the inter- 

 val between the first and second metatarsal bones. 



The Branches of the Dorsalis Pedis. 



(1) The internal tarsal. Several small branches to the 

 inner side of the foot. 



(2) The external tarsal turns outward beneath the exten- 

 sor brevis digitorum muscle to the outer side of the foot, 

 where it enters into an anastomosis with the external 

 malleolar, anterior peroneal, external plantar, and the meta- 

 tarsal arteries. 



(3) The metatarsal artery passes outward under the ten- 

 dons of the extensor brevis digitorum muscle and across the 

 heads of the four outer metatarsal bones to the outer border 

 of the foot. 



Above, it anastomoses with the external tarsal, and at the 

 outer side of the foot with the external plantar. From the 

 front part of the artery the three interosseous branches are 

 given off. 



The interosseous arteries pass forward in the second, 



