THB LUMBO-8ACBAL ru:.\r.<. 777 



large number and their shortness. Those of the (loop layer are supplied by 

 filaments from a single long and thick branch, which descends between the 

 perforates and the internal gastrocnemius. It may bo remarked, that the 

 filament going to the so-called small plantar muscle, passes underneath the 

 external gastrocnemius, outside the perforatus, and that, by its position, it 

 exactly represents the solens ramuscule of Man. Wo are, therefore, with 

 Vicq-d'Azyr, Cuvier, and others, justified in naming this little muscle the 

 solearis (soleus), instead of continuing to designate it the small plantai is, 

 which appellation is given to another muscular element. 



6. In its course along the tendo-Achillis, the sciatic nerve emits some 

 slender cutaneous filaments, which wo do not consider worthy of further 

 notice. 



TERMINAL BRANCHES. 



PLANTAR NERVES (Fig. 355, 10, 12). These two nerves enter the 

 tarsal sheath, behind the perforans tendon, along with the plantar arteries. 

 Towards the superior extremity of the cannon, they definitively separate 

 from each other; the external is carried outwards between the precited 

 tendon and the rudimentary metatarsal bone ; the internal is placed with 

 that, tendon, and follows the posterior border of the inner metatarsal bone. 

 Both afterwards descend on the fetlock, where they comport themselves 

 like the analogous nerves of the anterior limb. 



HIFFKREXTIAL CHARACTEKS IN THE M'MBO-SACRAL PLEXUS OF OTHER THAN SOLIPED 



ANIMALS. 



As was the case with the brachial plexus, so with this; the differences observed 

 being trilling in the upper part of the limb, but more numerous and important in the 

 region of the foot, the complexity f arrangement varying with the species. 



RUMINANTS. The lumbo-sacral plexus of these animals is constituted by two lumbar 

 and three sacral nerves, as in Solipeds; but the third sacral only gives a very tine 

 filament, which reaches the second in passing downward and forward. 



At the femoro-tibial articulation, the branches of the plexus are similar to those in 

 til-- Horse. Below that articulation, the following disposition lias been observed in 

 the Sheep. 



The musculo-cutaneoit* brnm-li of the popliteal is long and thick. It descends <>n tin- 

 anterior face of the metatarsus, und at the metatarso-phalangeal articulation bifurcates, 

 the branches forming the dorsal collaterals of the digits. The <uttu-ir tiln'al m rr>- 

 presents two branches parallel to the tibial vessels; one passes along tin nn tatar-al 

 region, and when it arrives at the bottom of the groove between tl <> < -ondyles <>t 'tin: 

 metatarsus, it divides into two branches that constitute the d< ep OoUatanll of the 

 these collaterals furnish filaments to the posterior face of the digital region. 



The great sciatic resembles that of Solipeds. Its terminal branclns, or /ilontar 

 nerves, differ from those of the Horse in the absence of the transverse anastomosis that 

 unites the two conls in tin- r<-tri"ii of the tendons. 



PIG. The luinbo-sacral plexus of this animal is cuinjMisi-d of two lumbar and throe 

 sacral nerves: reckoning, of course, as a Micral n< r\v, tin- trunk that escapes fr.nn 

 between the last luml>ar vertebra and the t-arrnm. The plexus may IK' divided into 

 two portions, the first furnishing a fcmor.il and an obturator nerve. Tin- inlirnul 

 saphenous branch of the femoral nerve is long and voluminous; at its origin it is us 

 large as the branch passing to the anterior mu-el. <>! tin tlru'h. and it descends on the 

 inner face of the metatarsus, forming the dor>al collateral <>l the internal digit. 



The great tciatic is voluminous and round. The branches it gives to the muscles 

 of the pelvis and femur are disposed marly as in S.-li|H-ds ami Kuminants ; but 

 differences are observed in the external poitlil-nl and tin- terminal bnuieh. -. 



The mutculo-cutaneotu " > i. .i'-h.-s the metatarsal region. \\h,- r . it separates into 

 three branches, which form the dors-d collaterals of the dibits. 



The anterior tibial nerce descends between the two principal m< tatnrsals. and at tho 

 root of the middle digits divides to anastomose with tin- plantar nerve.... of tli.se the 

 external is small, and gives collaterals to the two external digits ; the internal, the 



