334 SPECIAL ANATOMY. 



4. Art. malleolaris interna, passes transversely under tendo m. tibial. antici 

 inwards and above the internal malleolus to the internal surface of the 

 tarsus, and anastomoses with art. plantaris interna. 



585. Pedicea s. dorsalis pedis, the dorsal artery of the foot, 



the continuation of tibial. antica, when it has passed out from under the lig. 

 tarsi dorsale, passes upon the back of the foot, from behind forwards, as far 

 as the posterior extremities of the os metatarsi 1. and 11., and sinks between 

 these to the sole of the foot. Position : on the external border along the ten- 

 dons of extensor halluc. longus, on the internal of extens. digit, brevis, covered 

 by the fascia and skin, only. Branches : 



5. Tarsea externa. Origin : before the collum astragali. Course : obliquely 

 outwards, under m. extens. digitorum brevis, to the basis of the fifth os meta- 

 tarsi; anastomoses with art. plantaris under the sole of the foot. 



Branches : 1. Sam. posterior, anastom. with art. malleolar. externa and pe- 



roncea. 



2. Earn, anterior, passes forwards in a curve, anastomoses with 

 art. metatarsea, and sometimes gives the interossea dorsalis 3. 



6. Tarsea interna, passes obliquely forwards and inwardsj to the articula- 

 tion of os cuneiformel. and metatarsi 1., gives branches to the great toe before, 

 and to the metatarsus behind. 



7. Art. metatarsea, arises, generally, in the interspace between first and 

 second os metatarsi at the posterior extremity; passes transversely outwards, 

 and forms the arcus dorsalis metatarsi, which anastomoses with tarsea externa 

 and gives off anteriorly the artt. interossece. 



8. Art. interossea dorsalis I. passes off from the. art. pedicea, before this be- 

 takes itself to the sole of the foot, into first inter stit. inteross., and supplies the 

 dorsal surface of the outer and inner border of the great toe and the internal 

 border of the second toe ; it belongs therefore to the arcus dorsalis. 



586. IV. Tibialis postica, the posterior tibial artery, 



the posterior branch of art. poplitcea, passes downwards in the 

 direction of the last, at an acute angle from art. tibialis antica to 

 the posterior surface of the leg and the internal malleolus ; beneath 

 this to the groove on the inner surface of calcaneus, and divides 

 at the boundary between the sole and the internal border of the 

 metatarsus^ into art. plantaris interna and externa. Position : 

 as far as the inferior third of the tibia before m. soleus, then on the 

 inner border of tendo Achillis, covered by the fascia and skin, only ; 

 behind m. tibialis posticus and flexor, digitor. longus ; on the in- 

 ner side of n. tibialis. On the inner side of the os calcis covered 

 by lig. laciniat. internum above, flex, digit, long, (within) and 

 hattucis (without) it divides, close behind caro quadrata. Branches : 



