EXTERNA L PL A XT A R 



595 



the interosseous space in wliich they run. The first comes off from the outermost 

 part of the ))lantar arch, and courses forwards along the outer side of the little toe 

 (figs. 378, 379, 381), over the fifth metatarsal l)one and the abductor and flexor 

 brevis minimi digiti muscles. The second, third, and fourth digitals run forwards 

 in the centre of the interosseous spaces on the therein contained interosseous 

 muscles, under cover of the contiguous lumbrical, the short and long flexor 

 tendons, and the transversalis pedis muscle. Near the cleft of the toes they 

 become su{)erficial, and bif ungate for the supply of the contiguous sides of the toes: 

 the second sup{)lying the inner side of the fifth and the outer side of the fourth toe; 

 the third the inner side of the fourth and the outer side of the third toe; and the 

 fourth tlie inner side of the third and the outer side of the second toe. The supply 



Fig. 379. — Right Plantar Aktekies (Deep). 

 (From a dissection in tlie Hunterian Museum.) 



Internal calcanean br(inclt 

 of posterior tibial 



Posterior tibial arteri/ 



Abductor hallucis, cut 



Internal plantar arteri/ 



Inner head of flexor 

 accesBoriua 



Flexor longus haUueis 



External plantar artery 



Adductor hallucis 



Flexor brevis hallucis 



Princeps hallucis artery 



Plexor tendons, 

 cut short 



Collateral dir/ital branch of 

 princeps hallucis to inner 

 side of great toe 



Cutaneous and anastomotic 

 branches of external 



plantar 



Outer head of flexor 

 aocessorius 



Abnormal muscular slip 



Muscular branch 



Cutaneous branch 



Collateral digital artery to 

 outer side of little toe 



Second digital artery 

 Third digital artery 

 Fourth digital artery 



of the inner side of the second and both sides of the great toe is dtrived from the 

 dorsalis pedis through its communicating branch to the plantar arch. The digital 

 arteries, immediately before they bifurcate, send ujnvards on to tlie dorsum of the 

 foot a communicating branch (the anterior perforating artery) to the corresi)onding 

 dorsal interosseous arteries. On tlie side of the toes the digital arteries — here some- 

 times called the collateral digital arteries — furnish numerous small branches to 

 the integuments and the flexor tendons and their sheaths. They anastomose by 

 manv small twigs witli the dorsal interosseous arteries, which also run along the 

 sides of the toes, but more towards the dorsal aspect. Immediately above each 

 phalangeal joint the collateral digital vessels communicate by cross branches, 

 forming a rete for the supply of the articular end of the phalanges and the con- 



