43 



the metatarsal region on either side of the perforans tendon. Each nerve 

 is accompanied by a slender artery (A. metatarsea plantaris superficialis) 

 and by a vein. The N. plantaris lateralis gives off a branch of consider- 

 able size to the proximal portion of the suspensory ligament. Near the 

 middle of the metatarsus, the N. plantaris medialis gives off a branch that 

 runs obliquely across the posterior face of the flexor tendons and joins 

 the plantaris lateralis a little above the distal end of the rudimentary 

 metatarsal bone. At the fetlock each plantar nerve divides into two or 

 three branches which are identical with those of the thoracic limb. 



A. saphena. This small artery was noted when the N. saphenus intemus 

 (p. 32) was dissected. The artery arises from near the middle of the A. 

 femoralis. It extends along the inner or medial face of the thigh and leg 

 to near the tarsus where it anastomoses (usually) with a small recurrent 

 branch of the A. tibialis posterior. The artery is accompanied by the large 

 V. saphena. 



A. femoralis. Turn aside the M. gracilis leaving intact the A. and V. 

 saphena. Transect the semimembranosus a hand's breadth (10 cm.) from 

 its attachment to the epicondyle of the femur and turn back the distal 

 portion of the muscle. Now trace the A. femoralis from its origin at the 

 level of the anterior border of the pubis to its termination just before it 

 passes between the two heads of the gastrocnemius where it is continued 

 by the A. poplitea. Note the muscles that are related to the artery, viz., 

 the sartorius, pectineus, vastus internus and adductor magnus. Note 

 also its relation to the deep inguinal lymph gland. 



Branches of the A, femoralis. 



(i) Pudendo-epigastricus or prepubic, see p. 29. 



(2) A. profunda femoris, see p. 36. 



(3) A. femoris anterior, see p. 36. 



(4) Rami musculares, to the vastus internus, sartorius, gracilis, adduc- 

 tor magnus and semimembranosus. 



(5) A. saphena, see above. 



(6) A. nutritia femoris enters the nutrient foramen of the femur. 



(7) A. genu (articular branch). This small branch arises from the 

 A. femoralis a little before the latter passes through the adductor magnus. 

 It runs near the posterior border of the vastus internus to the inner or 

 medial surface of the femoro-tibial joint where it ramifies. It also gives 

 small twigs to the vastus internus and the adductor magnus. 



(8) A. femoris caudalis (or A. femoris posterior), is a large vessel which 

 arises from the caudal or posterior face of the A. femoralis, just before the 



