THE VASCULAR SYSTEM. 141 
the abdominal wall removed, and the viscera pushed laterad 
to demonstrate the origin of the artery of this limb. As 
in the forelimb, the main artery in different portions of the 
leg takes the name of the corresponding region. 
The external iliac is the largest artery arising from the 
aorta in the lumbar region. It gives off but one important 
branch, the profunda, which, extending caudad, soon gives 
off a large epigastric artery to the abdominal wall, then 
smaller branches to the external genital organs, and numer- 
ous branches td the muscles on the caudal aspect of the 
femur. 
The femoral artery, which is a continuation of the ex- 
ternal iliac, extends along the medial aspect of the femur. 
In the proximal half of its course it is quite superficial, but 
the distal portion is covered by the gracilis, sartorius, and 
semimembranosus muscles. It furnishes four important 
branches: the anterior femoral, supplying mainly the qua- 
driceps extensor muscle; the superior posterior femoral, 
supplying the adductor and hamstring muscles; the saphe- 
nous, accompanying the saphenous nerve and vein to the 
foot, where it branches and anastomoses with the plantar 
artery; and the posterior inferior femoral, supplying mainly 
the gastrocnemius group of muscles (Fig. 52). 
The popliteal artery is the continuation of the femoral 
artery in the popliteal region on the caudal aspect of the 
knee-joint. One or two articular branches are given off 
here to the joint, in addition to the posterior tibial, which 
supplies the deep muscles of the crus. 
The anterior tibial artery is the continuation of the pop- 
liteal on the lateral cranial aspect of the tibia, adjacent to 
the bone. By separating the tibialis anticus and extensor 
longus digitorum muscles, this artery is well displayed. 
Near the knee-joint a small branch, the peroneal, is given 
off, and passes to the dorsal aspect of the foot, where it 
