THE ARTERIES. 



From thin anastomosis results, as in the Horso, two scries of mctutarsal branches a 

 profound anil a superjlt -i<d. 



Tlie jinifiinnd brunches, two or three in number, form on the posterior face of the 

 in tatarsnl bone, below the suspensory ligament, the pnsti -rinr int ro.-e.-r, mixed with 

 two or three reticulated venous' branches, and anastomose by their inferior extremity 

 with u perform ting branch of the collateral of the cannon. 



The superficial branches, similar to those which accompany the plantar nerves in the 

 Horso, are of very unequal calibre: the external is so rudimentary that it often escapes 

 dissection ; the internal in reality continues the plantar artery of ti.e same side. Both are 

 united t-> the perforating brancli already noticed. 



Anterior tibial artery. After passing down along the leg on its antero-extemal face, 

 as in Solipeds, this vessel arrives on the hock, where it takes the name of /<</(/ 

 artery, and furnishes the perforating pedal artery ; it is continued by the metatarso }>edal 

 or eotiafi'nd artery of the cannon. 



a. The perforating pedal artery does not differ from that of the Horse. 



6. The metatareo-pedal, or collateral of the cannon, descends, flanked by two satellite 

 veins, in the channel on the anterior face of the metatarsul bone, giving oft' towards the 

 inferior extremity of that channel the perforating branch already spoken of, and is 

 continued into the digital region as the common diyital artery. 



The perforating branch of the collateral of the cannon passes into the foramen pierced 

 from before to behind, across the inferior extremity of the inetatarsal bone, arriving 

 beneath the suspensory ligament, and then divides into several ascending and descending 

 branches. The first join the deep and superficial posterior metatural arteries furnished 

 by the plantar and pedal perforating arteries. Among the second, we notice three digital 

 arteries, fac-similes in miniature of those which will bo described in the anterior 

 limb: two Literal, descending on the excentric side of the phalanges; a medi.m, 

 turning within tlie flexor tendons to place itself behind them on the middle line of the 

 digital region, and prolonged into the interdigital space, where it anastomoses with u 

 branch of the principal artery of the digits. 



The latter artery, the common digital, descends into the space between the digits, 

 after passing beneath the cnpsular ligament of the metatarso-phalangeal articulations, in 

 tlie notch comprised between the two articular snrfacis of the metatarsal bone, and 

 terminates above the inferior extremity of the first phalanx by two ungueal art< ri< .-, 

 whose description will be reserved until describing the arteries of the anterior limb, 

 In the number of collateral branches emanating from this vessel, there may be particularly 

 remarked a large off-shoot which arises a little before the separation of the two ungueal 

 arteries, and is directed from before to behind, dividing at the posterior part of the 

 interdigital space into several divisions, the principal of which are : 1, Two transverse 

 branches passing between the flexor tendons and the phalanges, to be joined to the 

 lateral digital arteries; 2, A single ascending brunch, joining with the posterior median 

 digital artery; 3, A descending branch, also single, dividing into two portions which 

 reach the heels, to be distributed to the plantar cushion and the villous tissue. These 

 branches represent the arteries of the plantar cushion in the Horse, and will bo noticed 

 more in detail in the description of the arteries of the anterior limb, where in 

 principle they are found to be exactly like these. 



2. External Iliac Arteries of the Pig. 



The distribution of these vessels in the Pig is remarkably like that we have described 

 as existing in Ruminants, even in the terminal portions of tlie limbs, notwithstanding 

 the complete development of the two lateral digits. It may bo noted, however, that the 

 posterior tibial artery is somewhat slender, and that it is singularly reinforced by its 

 anastomosis with the saphena artery, whose dimensions are relatively considerable. 1 



3. External Iliac Arteries of Carnivora. 



The crural trunk is divided in the Carnivora, as in the other animals, into three 

 sections: the proper iliac artery, the femoral artery, and tlie popliteal artery, terminated 

 by the tibial brancJtes. 



Proper iliac artery. This vessel docs not give rise to any branch, as the cir- 

 cumflexa ilii comes directly from the abdominal aorta. 



1 In small Ruminants, the posterior tibial artery, properly speaking, is eqnally 

 rudimentary; the saphena artery constitutes the principal Teasel. From a note which 

 we made a lung time ago, it appears the first vessel is altogether absent sometimes, and 

 that the plantar divisions come exclusively from the saphena, as in the Carnivora. 



