where it terminates in the dorsalis pedis artery for the back of the foot. By this last the pulse is sometimes taken and its pulsation is a guide in determining how high up to amputate in gangrene of the foot. The posterior tibial extends obliquely down the back of the leg to the heel, where it divides into the internal and external plantar arteries which go to the sole of the foot. Its most important branch is the peroneal.
Besides the deep veins accompanying the arteries there are the superficial veins, the internal or long saphenous on the inner side of the leg and thigh and the external or short spahenous on the middle of the leg posteriorly and emptying into the popliteal vein. Varicosity often occurs in these veins.
Nerves.—The nerves of the muscles about the hip are branches of the lumbar nerve. The anterior crural supplies the anterior part of the thigh, the gluteal the muscles of the same name, and the great sciatic the large muscles of the back of the thigh. Below the knee the anterior tibial goes to the tibialis anticus and the internal popliteal to the muscles of the calf, while the peroneus muscles are supplied by the musculo-cutaneous.
