174 THE POCKET AN ATOM? 



the posterior tibial vessels to interval between the external 

 malleolus and heel, where it divides into external and internal 

 plantar. It is at first inside the artery, but afterwards crosses 

 to the outer side. 

 Branches : 



Kluscular : to soleus, tibialis posticus, flexor longus digi- 

 torum, and flexor longus hallucis, the latter accompanying 

 the peroneal artery. 



Internal calcanean : pierces internal annular ligament, to 

 supply integument of heel and inner side of sole of foot. 



Internal plantar : larger terminal branch of the posterior 

 tibial ; accompanies internal plantar artery along inner side 

 of foot : the larger nerve thus accompanies the smaller artery. 

 Corresponds in distribution to median nerve of hand. It 

 passes between the abductor hallucis and flexor brevis digi- 

 torum to divide opposite the bases of the metatarsal bones 

 into four branches, the outermost of which communicates 

 with the external plantar. 

 Branches : 



Cutaneous : to sole of foot. 



Muscular: to abductor hallucis and flexor brevis digi- 

 torum. 



Articular : to tarsal and metatarsal articulations. 

 Digital (4) : the ist supplies inner border of ist toe and the 

 flexor brevis hallucis, the 2nd supplies the adjacent sides of 

 the ist and 2nd toes and the ist lumbrical, the 3rd supplies 

 the adjacent sides of the 2nd and 3rd toes, and the 4th supplies 

 the adjacent sides of the 3rd and 4th toes and joins a branch 

 from the external plantar. 



External plantar : passes across to outer side of foot with 

 external plantar artery, supplying on its way the abductor 

 minimi digiti and flexor accessorius ; at the outer border of 

 the latter muscle it divides into two branches : 



Superficial : which divides into two digital nerves, one sup- 

 plying the outer side of the little toe, the flexor brevis minimi 

 digiti, and the two interossei of the 4th space ; the other 

 supplies the adjacent sides of the 4th and 5th toes and com- 

 municates with the internal plantar. 



Deep or muscular: accompanies deep part of external 

 plantar artery, supplying the adductor obliquus hallucis, 

 adductor transversus Jhallucis, three outer lumbricals and 

 interossei of inner three spaces. 



EXTERNAL POPLITEAL OR PERONEAL : passes along the 

 popliteal space under cover of and inside biceps tendon, 

 then over outer head of gastrocnemius to the fibula ; 



