DE. J. MUEIE ON THE ANATOMY OP THE SEA-LIOX. 533 



slightly backwards under the gluteus maximus secundus and upper portion of biceps to 

 the peroneal margin of the soleus, where, dipping between it and the peroneus longus 

 below the head of the fibula, it divides into several branches. The uppermost one, the 

 anterior tibial, pierces the upper origin of the peroneus brevis muscle, and runs on the 

 neck of the fibula in a shallow groove underneath the peroneus longus and the fibular 

 origin of the extensor communis. It there subdivides, sending a twig to the knee-joint 

 and to the extensor longus, a larger one outwards to the head of the tibialis anticus, 

 and another to the extensor hallucis. 



The musculo-cutaueous nerve, or long branch of the above, goes down the leg deeply 

 between the peroneus longus and extensor communis digitorum to the ankle-joint, 

 where, just above the outer malleolus, it emerges, and is ultimately distributed to the 

 dorsum of the foot. 



The internal popliteal nerve, the continuation of the largest cord, or the great ischiatic, 

 leaves its neighbours at the middle of the fleshy belly of the quadratus femoris, and, 

 pursuing a course backwards and downwards to the middle of the lower leg, divides 

 into a number of branches on the inner or tibial side of the adductor magnus muscle. 

 Thus, from the peculiar position of both the upper and lower part of the hind leg, it 

 does not traverse the popliteal space, but becomes in a manner the posterior tibial, 

 almost in what appears, on cursory inspection, to be the region of the groin, which here, 

 however, is wrenched upwards, and so clothed with muscles as to be with difficulty 

 recognizable. As the internal popliteal reaches the sacro-peronaeus muscle it sends a 

 branch subdividing periplierally on the deep surface of the gastrocnemius. Another 

 branch similarly divides and enters the semimembranosus &c. 



The posterior tibial nerve, of considerable size, passes downwards beneath the gastro- 

 cnemius and upon the surface of the long flexors to the ankle, where its component 

 parts, diverging, form the internal and external plantar nerves. The latter goes beneath 

 the plantaris tendon as it reaches the sole of the foot, and sends muscular twigs to the 

 abductor ossis metacarpi quinti, the abductor and flexor brevis minimi digiti. One 

 branch, furthermore, goes to the outer side of the fourth digit, in company with the 

 digital branch of the external plantar artery ; another branch goes between the fourth 

 and fifth digits, splitting into an ulnar twig to the fifth, and a radial twig to the fourth 

 digit, besides twigs to the short palmar muscles and lumbrici. The former (internal 

 plantar) divides into two at the proximal end of the foot, the plantar artery running 

 between. One nerve, the inner one, proceeds to near the distal end of the proximal 

 phalanx, there splitting into two branches, one for the hallux, the other for the tibial 

 side of the second digit. The second division of the internal plantar nerve is more 

 medianly situated, and at the proximal extremity of the metatarsal bones divides — one 

 branch subdividing into the ulnar and radial twigs of the second and third digits, the 

 other branch similarly subdividing into the radial and ulnar twigs respectively of the 

 third and fourth digits. 



VOL. VIII. — PAET IX. June,1874i. 4 b 



