282 INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



Arteria Tibialis Anterior. The anterior tibial artery passes 

 forwards, between the two heads of the tibialis posterior 

 muscle, to the anterior region of the leg, where it has already 

 been dissected. In this part of its course the anterior tibial 

 artery gives off the posterior recurrent tibial and the superior 

 fibular branch. The posterior recurrent tibial is a small twig 

 which is not always present. It runs upwards under cover 

 of the popliteus muscle to the back of the knee-joint. The 

 superior fibular runs laterally, on the neck of the fibula, and is dis- 

 tributed to the muscles and integument in the neighbourhood. 



Arteria Tibialis Posterior. The posterior tibial artery is 

 the larger of the two terminal branches of the popliteal trunk. 

 It takes origin at the distal border of the popliteus muscle and 

 ends in the hollow on the medial side of the calcaneus, under 

 cover of the abductor hallucis, and at the level of the distal 

 border of the ligamentum laciniatum, by dividing into the 

 lateral and medial plantar arteries. In the first instance the 

 artery is placed between the two bones of the leg upon the 

 tibialis posterior muscle ; but as it passes distally it inclines 

 gradually medially, and at its termination it lies midway 

 between the prominence of the calcaneus and the medial 

 malleolus. 



In its proximal two-thirds the posterior tibial artery is situated 

 very deeply, being covered by the superficial muscles of the 

 calf. In the distal third of the leg it appears between the 

 tendo calcaneus and the medial border of the tibia, and is merely 

 covered by the integument, two layers of fascia, and lower 

 down by the ligamentum laciniatum. Proximo-distally it 

 rests upon the tibialis posterior, the flexor digitorum longus, 

 the tibia, and the posterior aspect of the ankle-joint. 



Throughout its entire course the posterior tibial artery is 

 closely accompanied by two ven<z comites. The tibial nerve 

 is at first on its medial side, but it soon crosses the vessel, 

 and then proceeds distally on its lateral side. 



The following are the branches which issue from the 

 posterior tibial artery : 



1. Muscular. 



2. A. nutritia tibae. 



3. A. peronaea. 



4. Cutaneous branches. 



5. Medial calcanean. 



6. Ramus communicans. 



7. A. plantaris medialis. 



8. A. plantaris lateralis. 



The muscular branches supply the deep muscles on the 

 back of the leg, and one or two of large size enter the soleus, 



