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cVs, towards the root of the great trochanter. It fends off 

 in its courfe numerous branches to the miifcles along which 

 it paffcs. Some of its branches ccmmiinicate with the in- 

 ternal circumflex and perforating arteries at the back of the 

 thigh. A large branch defccrds along the infide of the 

 vallus internns to the knee, and commnnicatts with the fu- 

 pcrior articular, and with the great anaftoniotic branches. 



The internal circumflex artery conies from the oppofitc 

 part of the trunk. It goes backward to the trochanter 

 minor, and turning round the bone, appears between the 

 quadiatus fcmoris and triceps mufcles. Its branches are 

 dillributcd to the muicles on all lides ; they communicate 

 witli the obturator, ifchiatic, and gluteal arteries. 



The two perforating branches of the profunda (the fc- 

 cond is the continuation of the trunk) pierce the triceps 

 mufcle, to which they give bianclies, and are diftributed to 

 the flexors of the leg. They communicate above with the 

 circumflex arteries, and below with the articular arteries. 

 The inferior perforating branch gives off the great nutri- 

 tiou artery of the thigh-bone. 



The femoral artery pafTes from the front of the thigh 

 raduatly towards the infide. It is at firft covered by the 

 ympliatic glands, then it goes under the fartorius mufcle, 

 and arrives at the tendon ot the triceps, through which it 

 penetrates into the ham, and takes the name of the popli- 

 teal artery. During this courfe, the femoral artery fends 

 oif fraall branches to the glands, to the fartorius, re6tus, and 

 other mufcles. The great anallomifing branch comes off as 

 the trunk enters the tendon of the triceps mufcle ; it plunges 

 into the fubllance of the vaiUis internns, from which it 

 emerges at the knee to communicate with the articular ar- 

 teries, and alfo with the dtfcending branch of the external 

 circumflex. Two branches go through the tendon of the 

 triceps to the mufcles at the back of the thigh ; they are 

 called by Murray the fupcrior and inferior perforating 

 branches of the femoral. Tliey communicate with the per- 

 forating branches of the profunda. 



The popliteal artery pafles from the tendon of the triceps 

 through the middle of that fpace which is termed the ham, 

 and arrives at the upper extremity of the foleus mufcle, 

 where it divides into the anterior and pofterior tibial arte- 

 ries. In this courfe it lies between the flexor mufcles, and 

 almoft clofe to the bone. It defcends between the con- 

 dyles of the thigh-bone and the heads of the gaftrocncmius, 

 111 contaA with the capfule of the knee. It gives off final] 

 mufcular branches to the flexor mufcles, and other larger 

 ones to the galtrocnemius and foleus. The articular branches 

 of the popliteal are live in number : three of them come off 

 above the joint, and are therefore called the fuptrior arti- 

 cular aiteries, the middle of tliefe three is diftributed to the 

 back of the capfule ; the other two bend round the former 

 jull above the eMternal and internal condyles. The inferior 

 articular arteries are two in number, one for the infide, the 

 other for the outfide of the joint- The four lail -mentioned 

 branches arrive in front of the knee, where they form a vaf- 

 ciilar net-work by their numerous communications with each 

 ether, and with the recurrent branch of the anterior tibial, 

 the anaflomotic branch of the femoral, and the defcending 

 bran'ch of the external circumflex. 



The anterior tibial artery comes off at the lower margin 

 of the popliteus mulcle, and irameJiately penetrates the in- 

 ttroffcous ligament- It defcends in the front of this liga- 

 ment betweca the tibialis anticus and the extenfor pollicis 

 longus, becoming more and more fuperticial as it approaches 

 tfe ankle. It paffis uader the tranfverfe ligament of the 

 ankle in compaiiy with the extenfor tendons, then goes 

 between the cxtenlor pollicis longus and the extenfor digi- 



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torum pedis longus to the root of the firft metatarfal bone, 

 where it plunges into the fole of the foot, and terminates by 

 a large communication with the external plantar artery. 

 Branches of the Anterior Tibial Artery. 



Tlie recurrent branch is given ofl immediately after the 

 trunk has paffed through the interoffeous ligament. It goes 

 through the tibialis amicus mufcle to the front of the knees, 

 where it connnunicates with the articular arteries. 



Small mufcular branches anfe throughout the whole 

 courfe of the artery along the leg. 



The external and internal malleolar arteries fiipply the 

 ankle joint and neiglibouring part of the tarfus. The ex- 

 ternal malleolar artery communicates with both the anterior 

 and pofterior branches ot the peroneal arle'ry. The tarfeal 

 artery goes under the extenfor digitouim bievis along the 

 fecoiid phalanx of tarfal bones. It gives fmall bianclies to 

 the ankle-joint, extenfor brevis, &c. It alfo lends oU three 

 arteries, which run along the intervals of the metatarfal 

 bones to the roots of the toes, where they join the digital 

 arteries at the point of bifurcation. 



The nietatarlal artery runs along the heads of the meta- 

 tarfal bones, and varies in fize according to the magnitude 

 of the tarfeal artery. Sometimes it is large, and produces 

 all the branches which have been dcfcribed as coming from 

 the tarfeal artery. 



The artery of the back of the great toe comes off jiji 

 before the anterior tibial defcends into the fole of the foot ; 

 it runs between the firil and Iccond metatarfal bones, and is 

 diftributed to the back of the great toe and of the fccond toe. 



The pofterior tibial artery is fituated under the foleus 

 mufcle, and between the flexor communis digitoniro and the 

 tibialis poflicus. It defcends to the lower extremity of the 

 tibia in this fituation ; then becoming more fuperticial, it 

 bends behind the inner ankle, and enters the fole of the 

 foot between the abductor pollicis pedis and the concave 

 furface of the os calcis ; here it divides into the external 

 and internal plantar arteries. 



Branches of the Pojlcrior Tibial Artery, 



Large mufcular branches to the foleus. 



The nutritious artery of the tibia. 



The peroneal or fibular artery, which varies much in 

 fize, defcends between the tibialis poflicus and flexor longus 

 pollicis, givincr branches to thofe mufcles in its paffagc to 

 the bottom of the leg, where it divides into an anterior 

 and a pofterior branch. The pofterior branch defcends ia 

 the direction of the trunk to the outfide of the os calcis, 

 where it communicates with the extcrral plantar and exter- 

 nal malleolar arteries. The anterior branch comes through 

 the lower part of the interoffeous ligan:tnt, and advancing to 

 the ankle, communicates with the external malleolar artery. 



Branches throughout the courle of this artei-y to the 

 neighbouring mufcles. 



Two large branches to the bottom of the os calcis. 



The extenuil plantar artery is the largell brateh of the 

 pofterior tibial ; it runs along the infide of the ahduftor mi- 

 nimi digiti till it reaches the nfih metatarfal hone ,• there 

 it bends inwards to the firft metatarfal bone, where it 

 inofculates with the tibialis antica, and fom s the phnitar 

 arch. This artery fends off many brarich.'s to the adjacent 

 mufeles, and to the bones of tlie tarfus. The convexity of. 

 the arch gives off four arteries, whicli pafs between the meta- 

 tarfal bones to the roots of the toes, vvr.ere each of them 

 divides into two ; thcte are dillributed along the fides of t'le- 

 toes. The arch ai.Oi fends off three or four branches, which, 

 penetrate to the back of the foct. 



The internal plantal artery keeps along the infide of the 

 foot in the direction of the abdudor pollicis ; it terminates 



by 



