598 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY. 



The Anterior Tibial Nerve. Figs. 124, 125. 



The remaining branch of division of the external popli- 

 teal nerve, the other being the musculocutaneous. 



The anterior tibial nerve descends through the substance 

 of the extensor longus digitorum muscle, keeps at the outer 

 side of the anterior tibial artery for its upper third, then 

 runs upon the anterior surface of the artery in its middle 

 third, leaves the artery in its lower third, remaining at its 

 outer side, passes with the long tendons under the two 

 bands of the anterior annular ligament, and terminates here 

 by dividing into two branches, an internal and external. 



The internal branch continues forward along the outer 

 side of the dorsalis pedis artery to the first interosseous 

 space, receives a branch from the musculocutaneous and 

 divides into collateral digital nerves to the adjacent sides 

 of the great and second toes. The external branch turns 

 outward under the extensor brevis digitorum, becomes 

 slightly enlarged, and from this enlargement filaments pass 

 to the muscles and tarsal articulations. 



In its course the anterior tibial supplies muscular branches 

 to the extensor longus digitorum, tibialis anticus, extensor 

 proprius hallucis, peroneus tertius, and the extensor brevis 

 digitorum ; articular branches to the ankle and the tarsal 

 joints. 



