THE LEG 



269 



naviculare, and the intermediate cuneiform bones, to the 

 posterior p'art of the interosseous space between the meta- 

 tarsal bones of the great toe and the second toe. There it 

 leaves the dorsum of the foot, by dipping plantarwards between 

 the two heads of the 

 first dorsal interosse- 

 ous muscle, to reach 

 the plantar region 

 where it unites with 

 the lateral plantar 

 artery in the forma- 

 tion of the plantar 

 arch. Its relations 

 on the dorsum of the 

 foot are very simple, 

 (i) It lies in the in- 

 terval between the 

 tendon of the exten- 

 sor hallucis longus on 

 the medial side and 

 the most medial ten- 

 don of the extensor 

 digitorum longus on 

 the lateral side. (2) 

 At its commencement 

 it is crossed by the 

 proximal band of the 

 cruciate ligament, 

 whilst near its ter- 

 mination it is crossed 

 by the most medial 

 tendon of the extensor 

 digitorum brevis; 

 with these exceptions 

 the vessel is simply 

 covered by the integu- 

 ment and fascia. (3) 

 The medial terminal branch of the deep peroneal nerve lies 

 along its lateral side, and two vena comites accompany it. 



As the dorsalis pedis artery traverses the dorsum of the 

 foot it gives off several twigs to the medial margin of the foot, 

 and also three named branches : 



Tibialis anterior 

 Extensor digitorum longus 



Peronaeus brevis 

 Peronaeus longus 

 Extensor hallucis longus 



Tibia 



- Peronaeus tertius 

 -Fibula 



Ligamentum transversum 

 Extensor hallucis longus 

 Dorsalis pedis artery 

 Ligamentum cruciatum 

 Deep peroneal nerve 

 Tibialis anterior 



Nerve to extensor 



hallucis brevis 

 Extensor hallucis 

 longus 

 Peronaeus tertius 



Extensor digitorum 

 brevis 

 ~ Arcuate artery 



Tendons of extensor 

 digitorum longus 



FIG. 98. Dissection of the Dorsum of the Foot. 



