THE LIMBS OF THE HORSE 



149 



borders respectively of the deep flexor tendon, and behave in the 

 same manner as the volar nerves of the thoracic limb. The oblique 

 anastomotic branch from the medial to the lateral nerve is always 

 smaller than that in the metacarpus, and is frequently absent alto- 

 gether. 



ARTERIES of the metatarsus and digit. — The medial tarsal artery 

 (a. tarsea medialis), the larger of the two terminal branches of the 



M. gastrocnemius. 



Mm. plantaris, biceps femoris et seini- 

 tendinosus. 



- Tuber calcanei. 



M. peronauis tertius. -J-V* 



Fourth tarsal bone (cuboid). 



Third tarsal bone (cunei- 

 form). 



Fourth metatarsal bone. 



Third metatarsal bone. 



-Talus. 



Central tarsal bone 

 (scaphoid). 



VM. peromeus tertius. 



Mm. peronwus tertius et tibialis 

 anterior. 



Fig. 102. — Dorsal (Anterior) Aspect of the Tarsus, with Areas of Muscular Attachment. 



posterior tibial, has already been observed to produce a double curve 

 on a level with the summit of the tuber calcanei, and the origin 

 of the recurrent tibial artery from the convexity of the second curve 

 has also been noted. After the formation of the second curve the 

 medial tarsal artery proceeds in a distal direction upon the deep 

 flexor tendon in company with the plantar nerves. Just before the 

 base of the metatarsal bone is reached the vessel divides into the 

 medial and lateral plantar arteries (a. plantaris medialis ; a. plantaris 

 lateralis). 



Of the two plantar arteries the lateral is the larger, and follows the 

 lateral plantar nerve (posterior to the nerve) along the border of the 



