THE ARTERIES 753 
ward and forward to the medial face of the stifle joint. The saphenous artery is 
large. It arises from the medial surface of the femoral a little below the middle of the 
thigh, descends superficially to the proximal part of the leg, and divides into two 
branches. The smaller dorsal branch (Ramus dorsalis) passes obliquely downward 
and forward across the medial surface of the tibia to the flexion surface of the hock and 
gives off the second, third, and fourth superficial dorsal metatarsal arteries. These 
descend along the grooves between the metatarsal bones and each divides into two 
proper digital arteries. The plantar branch (Ramus plantaris), which is much the 
Fic. 622.—Arrertes or Distat Part or RicHt Hinp 
Limes or Doc; Dorsat View. 
a, Lateral branch of anterior tibial artery; 6, an- 
terior tibial artery; c, saphenous artery (dorsal branch); 
d, perforating metatarsal artery; e, dorsal metatarsal 
arteries; f, deep dorsal metatarsal arteries; g, super- 
ficial dorsal metatarsal arteries; h, anastomoses between 
Fie. 623.—Arrertes oF Distat Part or Ricut Hinp 
Live or Doc; PLanTaR VIEW. 
k, Saphenous artery (plantar branch); /, U’, medial 
and lateral plantar arteries; m, perforating metatarsal 
artery; n, deep plantar metatarsal arteries; 0, super- 
ficial plantar metatarsal arteries; p, common digital 
artery; g, proper digital arteries. 
dorsal and plantar arteries; 7, common digital arteries; 
j, proper digital arteries. 
larger, descends on the medial face of the gastrocnemius and the long digital flexor. 
Tt gives off the lateral tarsal artery to the lateral surface of the tarsus, and at the 
plantar face of the tarsus detaches the medial and lateral plantar arteries; these 
descend on either side of the deep flexor tendon and unite with the perforating 
metatarsal artery to form the proximal plantar arch. The artery continues 
down the middle of the plantar surface of the metatarsus and divides near the 
metacarpo-phalangeal joints into three superficial plantar metatarsal arteries 
(II, HI, TV). These vessels unite with three deep plantar metatarsal arteries, which 
descend from the proximal plantar arch and with branches from the dorsal meta- 
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