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in a slender flat tendon half-way down the leg. Its tendon glides 
behind the tarsal joint through the sheath of the gastrocnemius, ex- 
pands beneath the metatarsal joint, perforates the flexor of the proxi- 
mal phalanx of the third toe, and then bifurcates to be attached to 
the sides of the second phalanx, giving passage to the perforans tendon 
of the last phalanx. 
Flexor perforatus of the middle toe.—This arises by very short 
tendons from the proximal end of the fibula, and from the ligament 
attached to the bicipital pulley: it continues to derive a thin stratum 
of fleshy fibres from the fascia covering the anterior surface of the 
muscles of the leg: the fleshy fibres terminate half-way down the 
leg in a flattened tendon, which pierces the tendon of the first per- 
foratus of the middle toe, then runs forward to the outer toe, expands 
into a thick ligamentous substance beneath the proximal phalanx, 
and sends off two tendinous attachments on each side, one to the 
proximal, the other to the second phalanx, and is continued to be 
finally inserted into both sides of the third phalanx. 
Flexor perforatus digitorum pedis is the strongest of the three ; 
it arises fleshy from the posterior part of the distal extremity of the 
femur, above the external condyle, and also by a distinct tiattened 
tendon, one inch in length, from the proximal end of the tibia: this 
-tendon moreover receives the long slender tendon sent off obliquely 
across the front of the knee-joint from the pectineus, by which its 
origin is extended to the pelvis. ‘This accessory tendon perforates 
the inner fleshy surface of the muscle, and is finally lost about half- 
way down the carneous part. Before the flexor digitorum is joined 
by the tendon of the pectineus, it subdivides posteriorly into four 
muscular fasciculi: the anterior division receives principally the above 
tendon. ‘The muscle becomes wholly tendinous two-thirds down the 
leg ; its tendon passes through the posterior part of the pulley of the 
gastrocnemius, and expands as it passes along the metatarsus : a thick 
ligamentous substance is developed in it, opposite the joint of the 
proximal phalanx of the second toe, into the sides of which it is 
inserted, dividing for that purpose, and giving passage to the two 
other flexor tendons of that tue. The second portion of the present 
muscle terminates in a tendon situated behind the preceding, which 
passes through a distinct sheath behind the tarsal joint, expands 
into a sesamoid fibro-cartilage beneath the corresponding expansion 
of the previous tendon, which it perforates, and then becomes itself 
the perforated tendon of the second phalanx of the second toe, in the 
sides of which it is inserted. The third portion of this muscle ends 
in a somewhat smaller tendon than the preceding. ‘The fourth and 
most posterior portion soon becomes a distinct muscle; its fleshy 
fibres cease on the inner side, one-fourth down the leg, but on the 
outside they are continued three-fourths down the leg: its tendon 
passes through the gastrocnemial pulley behind the ankle-joint, and 
divides to form a sheath for the first perforatus of the fourth toe ; 
it is then joined by a tendon passing through a pulley across the ex- 
ternal malleolus, and finally becomes the perforated tendon of the 
first metacarpal bone of the middle or third tve. 
