Nerves of Leg and Foot 381 



malleolus it has the artery and its venae comites close upon the inner 

 side, and the tendon of the flexor longus hallucis a little to its outer 

 side. 



It supplies the tibialis posticus, flexor longus digitorum and flexor 

 longus hallucis, and gives an additional branch to the soleus. It also 

 gives off a plantar cutaneous branch for the inner border of the foot 

 (which pierces the internal annular ligament), and articular twigs to the 

 ankle-joint. 



The internal plantar nerve is larger than the external, and comes 

 from the division of the posterior tibial midway between the inner 

 malleolus and the tuberosity of the os calcis, from under cover of the 

 abductor hallucis. It supplies the plantar surface of the inner three 

 and a-half digits (corresponding thus to the median nerve) ; the 

 branch for the inner side of the great toe pierces the deep fascia near 

 the middle of the inner side of the foot. The bed of the nail is 

 supplied by the plantar nerves. Muscular branches are given to the 

 abductor hallucis, flexor brevis digitorum, flexor brevis hallucis, and to 

 the two inner lumbricals. 



The external plantar, like the ulnar nerve, gives off few digital 

 branches (to the little toe and the adjoining side of the fourth only), 

 and many muscular branches, namely, to the flexor accessorius (over 

 which it passes), to the abductor and flexor brevis minimi digiti, the 

 two outer lumbricals, all the interossei, the transversus pedis, and the 

 adductor hallucis. 



The external popliteal or peroneal nerve descends close along 

 the inner side of the tendon of the biceps, and, winding below the 

 head of the fibula into the peroneus longus, divides into the musculo- 

 cutaneous and anterior tibial. It gives three branches to the knee-joint, 

 two of which accompany the outer articular arteries, and a recurrent 

 branch which ascends to the joint through the tibialis anticus ; some 

 cutaneous branches to the outer side of the leg, and the communicans 

 peronei to join the external saphenous. 



The musculo-cutaneous nerve descends between the peronei 

 longus and brevis and the extensor longus digitorum, and divides into 

 two branches which pierce the fascia lata in the lower third of the 

 leg ; the inner of them supplies the inner side of the great toe and the 

 cleft between the second and third toes (leaving the first cleft for the 

 anterior tibial nerve), whilst the other division supplies the two outer 

 clefts (leaving the outer side of the little toe for the short saphenous). 

 Muscular branches pass into the peroneus longus and brevis. 



The anterior tibial nerve gains the outer side of the corresponding 

 artery by passing through the origin of the extensor longus digitorum ; 

 afterwards it holds relations very similar to those of the artery. 

 Though the nerve may lie over the artery in some part of its course, it 

 is again to its outer side beneath the annular ligament, where it divides 

 into an inner and an outer branch, of which the former passes along 



