38 



HORSESHOEING. 



checking the flow of blood in one part does not seriously inter- 

 fere with the flowing of the blood towards the larger veins. The 

 following are the most important of these net-works of veins or 



venous plexuses: (1) the 

 solar venous plexus (Fig. 22, 

 D) ; (2) the podophyllous 

 venous plexus (Fig. 21, C) ; 

 (3) superficial coronary ve- 

 nous plexus (Fig. 21, -B) ; (4) 

 bulbar venous plexus (Fig. 

 22, B). All these plexuses 

 of small veins contribute to 

 form the digital veins (Figs. 

 21 and 22 A). 



Nerves are roundish 

 white cords which come 

 from the brain and spinal 

 cord ; they generally accom- 

 pany arteries. They divide 

 and subdivide into smaller 

 and smaller branches till 

 they become invisible to the 

 naked eye and are lost in 

 the tissues. The nerves 

 that are found in the foot 

 come from the spinal cord, 

 and because the largest 

 nerves of the foot accom- 

 pany the digital arteries they 

 are called digital nerves 

 (Fig. 21, 1). The branches 

 ramify throughout all parts 

 of the foot except the horny box and the hair. Nerves, according 

 to their use or function, are classed as motor and sensory. The 

 motor nerves end in muscles which they stimulate to action and 



Foot viewed from below and behind : a, digital 

 arteries ; c, arteries of the plantar cushion ; /", 

 small branches of the semilunar artery of the os 

 pedis, which ramify In the velvety tissue of the sole ; 

 A, digital vein ; B, venous plexus of the heels or 

 bulbs ; D, solar venous plexus ; O, circumflex vein 

 of the toe ; 3, posterior digital branch of the plantar 

 nerve ; 4, cutaneous branches of the same. 



