THE ARTERIES 739 
The main facts as to the metacarpal and digital arteries are as follows: The 
rete carpi dorsale is formed essentially by the terminals of the interosseous artery 
of the forearm. It gives rise to three dorsal metacarpal arteries, which descend in 
the corresponding interosseous spaces and unite with branches of the volar meta- 
carpals to form three common digital arteries. Each of these divides into two 
proper digital arteries, which descend along the interdigital surfaces of the digits. 
From the superficial and deep volar arches described above there arise three super- 
ficial and three deep volar metacarpal arteries. The deep arteries unite near the 
distal end of the space between the principal metacarpal bones to form a stem 
which unites with the middle (third) superficial artery. The superficial arteries 
Fic. 609.—Arrtertes oF Distat Part or Ricut Hinp Fic. 610.—ArTeRIES OF DistaLt Part oF Ricut Hinp 
Lims or Pic; DorsaL View. Lima oF Pic; PLANTAR VIEW. 
a, Anterior tibial artery, continued on tarsus as the f, Saphenous artery, continued as medial tarsal 
dorsalis pedis; 6, perforating tarsal artery; c, dorsal artery; g, lateral tarsal artery; A, medial plantar artery, 
metatarsal arteries; d, common digital arteries; e, h’, lateral plantar artery; 7, perforating tarsal artery; 
proper digital arteries. j, deep plantar metatarsal arteries; k, common digital 
artery; l, proper digital arteries. 
unite to form an arch from which proper digital arteries are given off to the axial 
aspect of the small digits, and a common digital which supplies two volar proper 
digital arteries to each of the chief digits. 
The arteries of the hip, thigh, and leg are arranged much as in the ox. A few 
special features may be noted. 
The ilio-lumbar artery gives off a branch to the quadriceps femoris and lateral 
muscles of the thigh, and ramifies in the abdominal muscles. It may also supply 
the posterior abdominal artery, which otherwise arises from the deep femoral. 
The deep femoral artery is given off above the level of the pubis. It is large 
and compensates for the absence of the obturator artery. The posterior abdominal 
