SUPERFICIAL VEINS. 441 



transverse branch with the origin of the anterior tibial vein, and 

 then passes along the inner surface of the leg, forming the 

 anterior root of the internal saphenic vein. The external 

 metatarsal vein occupies a position on the outer side of the 

 flexor tendons, analogous to that of the internal. Towards the 

 superior extremity of the cannon, it anastomos'es with the deep 

 vein, then continues its course upwards, accompanied by the 

 plantar arteries, gains the hollow- above the tarsus, passing along 

 the femoro-popliteal nerve, and forms the posterior root of the 

 internal sphenic vein. The deep metatarsal vein originates 

 below the flexor tendons, and passes up underneath the 

 suspensory ligament, to the inner side of the chief interosseous 

 plantar artery. Below the hock, it receives the large anastomotic 

 branch from the external vein, passes through the canal formed 

 between the cuboid and cuneiform bones, finally forming the 

 principal branch of the anterior tibial vein. 



Above the hock there are four large veins — a deep-seated pair, 

 the anterior and posterior tibial, and a superficial pair, the. 

 internal and external saphenic veins. 



DEEP VEINS. 



The Anterior tibial vein is a satellite of the corresponding 

 artery. It is frequently double, arising on the anterior surface 

 of the hock by several branches, the chief one being the deep 

 metatarsal vein. Accompanying the artery, between the tibia 

 and fibula, it joins the posterior tibial to form the popliteal vein. 



The Posterior tibial vein commences in the hollow in front 

 of and inside the calcaneum, by branches furnished principally 

 by the two saphenic veins. It passes up the leg, with the 

 posterior tibial artery, and under the popliteus muscle unites 

 with the anterior tibial vein. 



SUPERFICIAL veins. 



The superficial or subcutaneous veins are the internal and 

 external saphenics. 



The Internal or Vena saphena major originates by two 

 large roots at the inner part of the hock. The anterior root is 

 a continuation of the internal, the posterior of the external 

 metatarsal veins; these converge, and form one large vessel on 



