THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE DOG 



855 



I } -^ descend in the first, second, and third intermetacarpal spaces 

 and unite with the volar common digital nerves in forming volar proper digital 

 nerves The arrangement of the digital nerves is indicated in the annexed sche- 

 matic figures. 



The lumbo-sacral plexus is formed from the ventral branches of the last five 

 lumbar and first sacral nerves. The more important specialfacts in regard to the 

 nerves of the pelvic limb are as follows: 



The saphenous nerve (Fig. 621) is relatively large, and, in fact, might be 

 considered as the continuation of the femoral nerve. It descends at first in front 

 of the femoral artery, then passes over the lower part of the medial surface of the 

 thigh with the saphenous artery, continues down the leg with the dorsal branch of 



Superficial 

 peroneal nerve 



Dorsal common 

 digital nerves 



Deep pero- 

 neal nerve 



Medial plantar 

 nerve 



Lateral 

 plantar nerve 



Pl(fntar 

 common 

 J digital 

 nerves 



Fig. 686. — Nerveb of Distal Pabt of Right Hind 



Limb of Dog, Dobsal View (Schematic). 



p, Dorsal proper digital nerves. 



Fig. 687. — Nebves of Distal Paet of Right Hind 



Limb of Dog, Plantah View (Schematic). 



p, Plantar proper digital nerves. 



that vessel, and anastomoses with branches of the superficial peroneal nerve. It 

 supplies cutaneous twigs from the stifle to the metatarsus. 



The common peroneal nerve separates from the tibial above the origin of the 

 gastrocnemius, runs downward and forward across the lateral head of that muscle, 

 passes between the deep flexor of the digit and the peroneus longus, and divides into 

 superficial and deep branches. The superficial peroneal nerve descends the leg 

 along the peroneus tertius and longus, gives off a dorsal branch to the first digit (N. 

 cutaneus dorsalis medialis), and divides at the proximal part of the metatarsus into 

 three dorsal common digital nerves (Nn. dig. pedis dors. comm. II, III, IV). These 

 descend with the superficial dorsal metatarsal arteries and concur with branches 

 of the deep peroneal nerve in forming dorsal proper digital nerves (Nn. dig. ped. 

 prop, dorsales). The deep peroneal nerve passes down the leg with the anterior 



