1084 DISSECTION OF THE LOWEE LIMBS. 



plantar artery is to be dissected forwards to the inner side of the great toe ; 

 and the internal plantar nerve, after giving branches to the abductor 

 pollicis, flexor brevis pollicis and two inner lumbricales muscles, will be 

 traced forwards to its distribution on both sides of the three inner toes and 

 one side of the fourth toe (pp. 446 and 677). The deep branch of the 

 external plantar nerve is to be traced to its distribution in the two outer 

 lumbricales, the transversus pedis, adductor pollicis, and all the interossei 

 muscles, save the outermost two, which, together with the flexor minimi 

 digiti, are supplied by the external digital branch. The arch of the 

 external plantar artery will at the same time be traced to the first inter- 

 osseous space, and its digital and other branches dissected (p. 447). After 

 these parts have been examined, the attachments of the flexor brevis and 

 abductor pollicis, transversus pedis, and flexor brevis miuimi digiti muscles 

 are to be fully studied. 



7. The Front of the Leg, and Dorsum of the Foot. The remaining in- 

 tegument having been removed from the front of the leg and upper surface 

 of the foot, the dissector will trace the cutaneous veins and nerves in this 

 region. On the inner border of the foot will be found the small terminal 

 twigs of the internal saphenous nerve, and in front of the inner ankle the 

 commencement of the great saphenous vein. (pp. 475 and 666) ; while on 

 the foot externally, and passing behind the outer ankle, will be observed 

 the external or posterior saphenous vein and nerve (pp. 476 and 677). On 

 the middle of the leg externally, the musculo-cutaneous nerve will be seen 

 piercing the aponeurosis and becoming superficial, and its distribution is to 

 be traced to the inner side of the great toe and to the adjacent sides of the 

 toes in the three outer interdigital spaces (p. 680); while the first inter- 

 digital space will be found supplied by a branch continued from the anterior 

 tibial nerve. Immediately above and to the inside of the ankle-joint will 

 be found the upper transverse and the lower oblique parts of the anterior 

 annular ligament or retinaculum binding down the tendons of the extensor 

 muscles (p. 295). These are to be kept, the rest of the aponeurosis being 

 removed : there will thus be exposed in order from within outwards, the 

 tibialis anticus, extensor pollicis, extensor longus digitorum, and peroneus 

 tertius muscles, which are to be dissected to their insertions (p. 279). On 

 the dorsum of the foot the extensor brevis digitorum is also to be dissected ; 

 preserving at the same time the anterior tibial vessels and nerves, and the 

 musculo-cutaneous nerves already mentioned. Arising from the outer 

 aspect of the fibula, the peroneus longus and brevis muscles are then to be 

 cleaned (p. 282) : the latter is to be traced to its insertion, but the course 

 of the tendon of the peroneus longus across the sole of the foot will be more 

 fully seen when the ligaments are dissected. The musculo-cutaneous nerve 

 is to be traced upwards to its origin from the external popliteal or peroneal 

 nerve, and, as it pierces the fibres of the peronei muscles in its course round 

 the fibula, its branches to these muscles will be seen. The anterior tibial 

 nerve is then to be traced beneath the muscles and round the fibula, and 

 downwards on the front of the interosseous membrane, and will be found to 

 supply in the leg the extensor longus digitorum, tibialis anticus, extensor 

 pollicis, and peroneus tertius muscles, and on arriving at the foot, the 

 extensor brevis digitorum (p. 682). The anterior tibial artery will at the 

 same time be dissected, and its branches traced, viz., its recurrent branch 

 passing upwards on the tibia through the origin of the tibialis anticus 

 muscle, to anastomose with the articular branches of the popliteal artery ; 

 its muscular branches, and its external and internal malleolar branches ; 



