chap, xxii.] THE LEG. 497 



the head of the fibula, and the two malleoli. It is 

 continuous above with the fascia lata, and below with 

 the fascia of the foot and the annular ligaments. It 

 is thicker in front than behind, and is especially thick 

 at the upper part of the leg just below the knee. 

 Here the fascia offers great resistance to the growth 

 of tumours springing from the head of the tibia. 

 From the deep surface of the aponeurosis two 

 septa pass inwards to be attached to the an- 

 terior and external borders of the fibula. They 

 serve to isolate the two larger peroneal muscles 

 from the other muscles of the limb, and form a 

 closed space which might form a definite and well 

 localised cavity for pus. Beneath the gastrocnemius 

 and soleus a layer of fascia extends between the two 

 bones and covers in the deep layer of muscles. It 

 is thin above but denser below, and would have some 

 influence in directing the progress of a deep abscess. 



In the upper third of the leg there is a septum be- 

 tween the tibialis anticus and extensor communis 

 digitorum, which must be found in the operation for 

 ligaturing the upper part of the anterior tibial artery. 

 I have never had the good fortune to see the very 

 distinct "white line" that many text-books describe 

 as indicating the position of this septum. 



In the substance of the soleus muscle there is a 

 tendinous expansion connected with the border of the 

 tibia, that runs backwards and towards the middle 

 Una In cutting through the soleus to apply a liga- 

 ture to the posterior tibial artery, this intersection 

 may be mistaken for the aponeurosis on the deep 

 surface of the muscle. 



Several cases are reported of rupture of some part 

 of the gastrocnemius muscle during violent exertion. 

 The teudo Achillis has been ruptured under like cir- 

 cumstances. It is said that the plantaris tendon is 

 also not infrequently torn across, producing a sudden 



GG 4 



