THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE DOG 855 
I, Il, Il). These 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 special facts 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 —-- -j-—- Deep pero- ; 
peroneal nerve neal nerve Medial plantar __ 
nerve 
_ Lateral 
plantar nerve 
een es 
\2 
Plantar 
common 
=== digital 
NETVES 
— 
Dorsal common _ 
digital nerves = 
Fic. 686.—Nerves or Distat Part or Ricut Hinp Fic. 687.—NeErvVEs oF Distat Part or Ricut Hinp 
Lr or Doc, Dorsat View (ScHEMATIC). Liss oF Doc, Prantar View (ScHEMATIC). 
p, Dorsal proper digital nerves. 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. IT, 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 
