304 INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



dorsum of the foot by joining the corresponding dorsal meta- 

 tarsal artery. 



The second, third, and fourth plantar metatarsal arteries run 

 forwards in the second, third, and fourth intermetatarsal spaces, 

 pass dorsal to the transverse head of the adductor hallucis, 

 and at the proximal end of the corresponding interdigital 

 cleft each plantar metatarsal artery ends by dividing into two 

 plantar digital arteries. The plantar digital branches of the 

 second plantar metatarsal artery supply the adjacent sides of 

 the second and third toes, those of the third 'supply the 

 adjacent sides of the third and fourth toes, and the plantar 

 digital branches of the third plantar metatarsal artery supply 

 the adjacent sides of the fourth and fifth toes. 



Immediately before it divides, each plantar metatarsal 

 artery sends dorsally an anterior perforating artery which joins 

 the corresponding dorsal metatarsal artery. 



Upon the sides of the toes the plantar digital arteries are 

 distributed in exactly the same manner as the proper digital 

 arteries of the fingers (see p. 1 18). 



The plantar digital branch to the lateral border of the 

 little toe springs from the lateral extremity of the plantar arch, 

 crosses the plantar surface of the flexor brevis digiti quinti, 

 and runs forward to the terminal end of the toe. 



The First Plantar Metatarsal Artery (O.T. Arteria Magna 

 Hallucis) corresponds with the arteria volaris indicis radialis 

 and the arteria princeps pollicis of the hand. It rises from the 

 plantar extremity of the dorsalis pedis, at the point where the 

 latter joins the plantar arch, and runs forwards to the cleft 

 between the great toe and the second toe, where it divides 

 into two plantar digital branches for the supply of the adjacent 

 sides of the first and second toes. Before it divides, it gives 

 off a plantar digital branch to the medial side of the great 

 toe which is joined by the terminal part of the medial 

 plantar artery. 



Deep Division of the Lateral Plantar Nerve. This ac- 

 companies the plantar arch in its course medialwards across 

 the sole, and ends in the deep surface of the oblique head of 

 the adductor hallucis. In addition to this muscle it supplies 

 all the interosseous muscles (with the exception of those in the 

 fourth space), the transverse head of the adductor hallucis, 

 and the three lateral lumbrical muscles. The twig to the 

 second lumbrical takes a recurrent course around the 



