SOLE OF THE FOOT 295 



as it proceeds forwards it appears in the interval between this 

 muscle and the flexor digitorum brevis. Finally, at the root 

 of the great toe it ends by joining the plantar digital artery 

 to the medial side of the hallux. 



The branches which proceed from the medial plantar are 

 small but very numerous. They are (i) three twigs which 

 accompany the common digital branches of the medial plantar 

 nerve to the clefts between the four medial toes these end 

 by joining the corresponding metatarsal arteries; (2) a series 

 of cutaneous branches to the skin of the sole, which pierce 

 the aponeurosis in the furrow between its medial and inter- 

 mediate parts ; (3) a number of branches to the muscles in 

 ihe vicinity ; (4) some offsets which pass medially under 

 cover of the abductor hallucis to reach the medial border 

 of the foot. 



Art. Plantaris Lateralis (O.T. External Plantar Artery). 

 This vessel is much larger than the medial plantar. It is 

 accompanied by the lateral plantar nerve and two vence. comites. 

 From its origin in the hollow of the calcaneus it proceeds 

 laterally, across the sole, to reach the interval between the 

 flexor digitorum brevis and the abductor digiti quinti. In 

 this interval it is continued forwards for a short distance, and 

 then, at the base of the fifth metatarsal bone, it turns suddenly 

 to the medial side, and crosses the sole a second time, under 

 cover of the flexor tendons, forming the plantar arch. In 

 the present stage of the dissection it is only displayed as far 

 as the base of the fifth metatarsal bone. Between its origin 

 and this point its relations are as follows: (i) It is placed 

 between the abductor hallucis and the hollow of the calcaneus ; 

 (2) it lies between the flexor digitorum brevis and the quad- 

 ratus plantae ; (3) it occupies the interval between the flexor 

 digitorum brevis and the abductor digiti quinti. In this 

 latter situation it is near the surface, and is merely covered by 

 the integument and fasciae. 



The branches which proceed from this part of the vessel are 

 (i) twigs to the neighbouring muscles; (2) medial calcanean 

 branches which arise near its origin, and gain the heel by 

 piercing the origin of the abductor hallucis; (3) cutaneous 

 branches which appear through the plantar aponeurosis 

 along the line of the lateral intermuscular septum ; (4) 

 twigs to the lateral margin of the foot which anastomose with 

 the tarsal and arcuate branches of the dorsalis pedis. 



