THE LEG 271 



adjacent sides of the second, third, fourth, and fifth toes. 

 From the most lateral interosseous artery a twig is also given 

 to the lateral side of the little toe. 



First Dorsal Metatarsal Artery (O.T. First Dorsal Interos- 

 seous). This small vessel takes origin from the dorsalis pedis, 

 at the point where it turns plantarwards to reach the plantar 

 region of the foot. It continues anteriorly, upon the first 

 dorsal interosseous muscle, and divides into dorsal digital 

 branches for the medial side of the great toe and the adjacent 

 sides of the great toe and second toe. 1 



Perforating Branch of Peroneal Artery (O.T. Anterior 

 Peroneal Artery). This branch of the peroneal artery 

 reaches the anterior region of the leg by piercing the 

 interosseous membrane, about one and a half or two inches 

 proximal to the lateral malleolus, and it descends upon the 

 lower part of the fibula under cover of the peronseus tertius. 

 It is distributed on the lateral side of the tarsus, where it 

 anastomoses with the lateral malleolar and the lateral tarsal 

 arteries. 



M. Extensor Digitorum Brevis. The extensor digitorum 

 brevis may now be examined. It arises from the anterior 

 part of the calcaneus, and also from the ligamentum 

 cruciatum. It splits into four fleshy bellies, which extend 

 forwards and medially, on the dorsum of the foot, and end in 

 four slender tendons for the four medial toes. The most 

 medial tendon crosses the dorsalis pedis artery, near its 

 termination, and is inserted into the dorsal aspect of the 

 base of the first phalanx of the great toe ; the remaining 

 three tendons join the long extensor tendons which go to 

 the second, third, and fourth toes. The extensor digitorum 

 brevis is supplied by the lateral branch of the deep peroneal 

 nerve. 



Nervus Peronaeus Profundus (O.T. Anterior Tibial). The 

 deep peroneal nerve is one of the terminal branches of the 

 common peroneal. It arises on the lateral side of the neck 

 of the fibula, and, piercing the proximal part of the extensor 

 digitorum longus obliquely, joins the anterior tibial vessels 

 a short distance distal to the lateral condyle of the tibia, and 

 accompanies them during the remainder of its course. In 

 the first instance it is placed lateral and next anterior to 

 them, but near the ankle-joint it again lies on their lateral 



1 For the branches from the dorsalis pedis in the plantar region see p. 304. 



