THE ARTERIES 



739 



^ The main facts as to the metacarpal and digital arteries are as follows: The 

 rete carpi dorsale is formed essentially by the terminals of the interosseous artery 

 of the forearm. It gives rise to three dorsal metacarpal arteries, which descend in 

 the corresponding interosseous spaces and unite with branches of the volar meta- 

 carpals to form three common digital arteries. Each of these divides into two 

 proper digital arteries, which descend along the interdigital surfaces of the digits. 

 From the superficial and deep volar arches described above there arise three super- 

 ficial and three deep volar metacarpal arteries. The deep arteries unite near the 

 distal end of the space between the principal metacarpal bones to form a stem 

 which unites with the middle (third) superficial artery. The superficial arteries 



Fig. 609. — ^Aktebies of Distal Part of Right Hind 

 Limb of Pig; Dorsal View. 

 a, Anterior tibial artery, continued on tarsua as the 

 dorsalis pedis; 6, perforating tarsal artery; c, dorsal 

 metatarsal arteries; d, common digital arteries; e, 

 proper digital arteries. 



Fig. 610. — Arteries of Distal Part of Right Hind 

 Limb of Pig; Plantar View. 

 /, Saphenous artery, continued as medial tarsal 

 artery; g, lateral tarsal artery; h, medial plantar artery, 

 hf , lateral plantar arterj''; i, perforating tarsal artery; 

 J, deep plantar metatarsal arteries; k, common digital 

 artery; I, proper digital arteries. 



unite to form an arch from which proper digital arteries are given off to the axial 

 aspect of the small digits, and a common digital which supplies two volar proper 

 digital arteries to each of the chief digits. 



The arteries of the hip, thigh, and leg are arranged much as in the ox. A few 

 special features may be noted. 



The ilio-lumbar artery gives off a branch to the quadriceps femoris and lateral 

 muscles of the thigh, and ramifies in the abdominal muscles. It may also supply 

 the posterior abdominal artery, which otherwise arises from the deep femoral. 



The deep femoral artery is given off above the level of the pubis. It is large 

 and compensates for the absence of the obturator artery. The posterior abdominal 



