TIBIAL NERVE 827 



veins which almost always accompany the artery here is usually very large, and the layer of muscle 

 which intervenes between it and the nerve is often exceedingly thin. In the distal p'art of the leg 

 the nerve is m direct contact with the vein, and on the front of the hock it Ues behind the vessels. 

 in very exceptional oases the nerve Ues for a variable distance in the middle of the leg in the lateral 

 part of the tibiahs anterior. 



Tibial Nerve 



The tibial nerve (N. tibialis)^ is the direct continuation of the great sciatic 



nerve (Figs. 576, 580, 583, 584, 659). It passes down between the two heads of the 



gastrocnemius, and accompanies the recurrent tibial vessels to the distal third of 



the leg, where it divides into the two plantar nerves. In the proximal third of the 



Long digital extensor 



Anterior tibial vessels ^■ 



Deep peroneal nerve 

 Superficial peroneal 

 nerve 

 Intermuscular septum 

 Fibrous band 



Lateral extensor 

 Intermuscular septum 



Deep head of deep 



flexor {flex, hall, 



longus) 



Peroneus tertius 



Tibialis posterior 

 N. cutaneus surce 

 Recurrent tarsal vein 

 and artery 



Soleus 



Tibialis anterior 



Saphenous vein 

 Saphenous artery 



Posterior tibial 



Tendon of long digital 



flexor 



Recurrent tibial vein 



Recurrent tibial artery 



Tibial nerve 



Tarsal tendon of biceps femoris 

 and semitendinosus 



Superficial flexor tendon 



Oastrocnemius tendon 



-Ceoss-section op Distal Third of Left Leg of Horse. 

 The deep fascia is shown by red line. 



leg it lies along the medial side of the superficial flexor under cover of the medial 

 head of the gastrocnemius; lower down it is covered by the common deep fascia 

 and is situated in the space between the deep flexor and the medial border of the 

 tendo calcaneus (Achillis). 



At the usual point of election for tibial neurectomy, i. e., about a handbreadth above the 

 level of the tuber calcis, the nerve Ues in areolar tissue and fat in a fascial compartment formed by 

 the special fascia of the deep flexor in front and by the common fascia and the tarsal tendon of the 

 semitendinosus and biceps femoris behind and medially. 



At its origin the tibial nerve gives off a muscular branch (Ramus muscularis 

 distalis), the divisions of which pass between the two heads of the gastrocnemius 

 ' Also termed the posterior tibial nerve. 



