THE ARTERIES 



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ward and forward to the medial face of the stifle joint. The saphenous artery is 

 large. It arises from the medial surface of the femoral a little below the middle of the 

 thigh, descends superficially to the proximal part of the leg, and divides into two 

 branches. The smaller dorsal branch (Ramus dorsalis) passes obliquely downward 

 and forward across the medial surface of the tibia to the flexion surface of the hock and 

 gives off the second, third, and fourth superficial dorsal metatarsal arteries. These 

 descend along the grooves between the metatarsal bones and each divides into two 

 proper digital arteries. The plantar branch (Ramus plantaris), which is much the 



Fig. 622. — Arteries of Distal Part of Right Hind 

 Limb of Dog; Dorsal View. 

 a. Lateral branch of anterior tibial artery; 6, an- 

 terior tibial arterj'; c, saphenous artery (dorsal branch); 

 d, perforating metatarsal artery; e, dorsal metatarsal 

 arteries; /, deep dorsal metatarsal arteries; g, super- 

 ficial dorsal metatarsal arteries; h, anastomoses between 

 dorsal and plantar arteries; i, common digital arteries; 

 j, proper digital arteries. 



Fig. 623. — Arteries of Distal Part of Right Hind 

 Limb op Dog; Plantar View. 

 k, Saphenous artery- (plantar branch) ; I, I', medial 

 and lateral plantar arteries; m, perforating metatarsal 

 artery; n, deep plantar metatarsal arteries; o, super- 

 ficial plantar metatarsal arteries; p, common digital 

 artery; q, proper digital arteries. 



larger, descends on the medial face of the gastrocnemius and the long digital flexor. 

 It gives off the lateral tarsal artery to the lateral surface of the tarsus, aad at the 

 plantar face of the tarsus detaches the medial and lateral plantar arteries ; these 

 descend on either side of the deep flexor tendon and unite with the perforating 

 metatarsal artery to form the proximal plantar arch. The artery continues 

 down the middle of the plantar surface of the metatarsus and divides near the 

 metacarpo-phalangeal joints into three superficial plantar metatarsal arteries 

 (II, III, IV). These vessels unite with three deep plantar metatarsal arteries, which 

 descend from the proximal plantar arch and with branches from the dorsal mexa- 

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