BRANCHES OF THE DORSAL ARTERY. 



451 



(c) The first interosseous branch, or dorsal artery of the great toe, is con- 



Fig. 308. ANTERIOR VIEW OP THE ARTERIES OP THE 

 LEG AND DORSUM OP THE FOOT (from Tiedemann). \ 

 The tibialis anticus muscle is drawn towards the inner 

 side so as to bring the anterior tibial artery into view, 

 the extensor proprius pollicis, the long common extensor 

 of the toes, and the peroneus tertius muscles in their 

 lower part, and the whole of the extensor communis 

 brevis, have been removed. 1, external superior articular 

 branch of the popliteal artery, ramifying on the parts 

 surrounding the knee ; and anastomosing with the other 

 articular branches and with 2, the recurrent branch of 

 the anterior tibial artery ; 3, 3, anterior tibial, giving 

 off muscular branches on each side ; 4, dorsal artery 

 of the foot ; 5, external anterior malleolar artery coming 

 off from the anterior tibial and anastomosing with 

 the anterior peroneal artery which is seen descending 

 upon the lower part of the fibula : the internal malleolar 

 is represented proceeding from the other side of the 

 anterior tibial artery ; 6, the tarsal branch of the dorsal 

 artery, represented in this instance as larger than usual 

 and furnishing some of the branches of the next artery ; 

 7, the metatarsal branch, giving off the dorsal inter > 

 osseous arteries ; (in the first interosseous space the 

 dorsal artery of the foot is seen to give off the anasto- 

 mosing branch which unites with the deep plantar arch ; ) 

 between 8 and 8, the collateral branches of the dorsal 

 digital arteries. 



Fig. 308. 



tinned forwards from the dorsal artery of the 

 foot at the point where it dips down to the 

 sole. This branch runs along the outer surface 

 of the first metatarsal bone, and furnishes the 

 small dorsal digital vessels of the great toe and 

 adjacent side of the second toe. 



(d) The plantar digital branch of the innermost 

 space, given off from the dorsal artery between 

 the heads of the first interosseous muscle, near 

 the inosculation with the plantar arch, passing 

 forwards divides into two smaller branches which 

 proceed along the contiguous sides of the first 

 and second toe. 



(e) The plantar digital branch for the inner 

 side of the great toe crosses beneath the first 

 metatarsal bone, and runs along the inner side of 

 the great toe on its plantar surface. 



PECULIARITIES of the anterior tibial artery. Origin. 

 In cases of early division of the popliteal arter} r , the 

 place of origin of the anterior tibial is necessarily 

 higher up than usual, being sometimes found as high 

 as the bend of the knee-joint. In some of these cases 

 (the posterior tibial artery being small or wanting), 

 the anterior tibial is conjoined with the peroneal 

 artery. When the anterior tibia! arises higher than 

 usual, the additional upper part of the vessel has been 

 seen resting on the posterior surface of the popliteus 

 muscle, and it has been likewise found between that muscle and the bone. 



