446 



PLANTAR ARTERIES. 



inches below the popliteus muscle ; and, on the contrary, it sometimes commences 

 higher up from the posterior tibial, or even from the popliteal artery itself. In 

 some cases of high division of the popliteal artery, the peroneal artery is trans- 

 ferred to the anterior tibial. It more frequently exceeds than falls short of the 

 ordinary dimensions, being enlarged to reinforce the posterior tibial. In those rare 

 instances in which it is lost before reaching the lower part of the leg, a branch of the 

 posterior tibial takes its place. The anterior peroneal branch is sometimes enlarged to 

 compensate for the small size of the anterior tibial artery in the lower part of the 

 leg, or to supply the place of that artery on the dorsum of the foot ; or it may be 

 absent and be replaced by the anterior tibial. In a singular case, recorded by Otto, 

 the peroneal artery was wholly wanting. 



PLANTAR ARTERIES. 



The external and internal plantar arteries are the branches into which, the 

 posterial tibial divides in the hollow of the calcaneurn, where it is covered 

 by the origin of the abductor pollicis. 



Fig. 305. 



Fig. 305. SUPERFICIAL VIEW OP THE ARTERIES IN 

 THE SOLE OF THE RIGHT FOOT (from Tiedemann). g 



a, tuberosity of the calcaneum close to the origin of 

 the flexor brevis digitorum (cut short) and the ab- 

 ductor pollicis, of which a part is removed to show 

 the long flexor tendons and plantar arteries ; b, ab- 

 ductor pollicis ; c, abductor minimi digiti ; d, tendon 

 of the flexor pollicis longus ; e, tendon of the flexor 

 coraraunis longus ; e\ its four slips, close to the lum- 

 bricales muscles, passing on to perforate the tendons 

 of the flexor brevis ; /, flexor accessorius ; g, flexor 

 brevis minimi digiti : 1, posterior tibial dividing into 

 the plantar arteries ; 2, 2', external plantar ; 3, in- 

 ternal plantar ; 3', the same passing forward to com- 

 municate with 4, the internal plantar digital branch 

 for the great toe ; 5, first digital or external plantar 

 branch to the fifth toe ; 6, placed in the angle 

 of division of the second plantar digital artery, 

 between the fourth and fifth toes ; 7, the third 

 plantar digital artery dividing similarly between the 

 third and fourth toes ; 8, the fourth plantar digital 

 artery dividing similarly between the second and third 

 toes ; 9, the plantar digital artery dividing similarly 

 between the first and second toes ; 1 0, internal plantar 

 artery of the great toe ; 11, calcaneal branches of the 

 plantar arteries, anastomosing with 12, the calcaneal 

 branches of the posterior peroneal artery. 



The internal plantar artery, much smaller 

 than the external, is directed forwards, along 

 the inner side of the foot. Placed at first 

 under cover of the abductor pollicis, it passes 

 forwards in the groove between that muscle 



and the short flexor of the toes, near the line separating the middle from 

 the inner portion of the plantar fascia, and on reaching the extremity of 

 the first metatarsal bone, considerably diminished in size, it terminates by 

 running along the inner border of the great toe, anastomosing with the 

 digital branches. 



BRANCHES. The internal plantar artery gives off numerous small twigs, which 

 may be distinguished in sets as follows : (a) muscular branches to the abductor 



