The Anterior, Or Digital Arteries, are larger than the preceding, and usually four in number. The first, or most external, supplies the outer edge of the little toe. The second, third, and fourth advance in the three outer interosseous spaces till they reach the upper surface of the transversalis pedis muscle: here each of them sends off an anterior perforating branch which communicates with the corresponding interosseous branch of the metatarsal artery: after this, each of the digital arteries divides into two digital branches: the digital branches from the second supply the inner surface of the little toe and the external surface of the opposite toe; those from the third supply the inner surface of the fourth toe and the outer of the third; and those from the fourth supply the inner surface of the third toe and the outer of the second. Thus the three outer toes and the outer surface of the second are supplied by digital branches from the external plantar artery; whilst the inner and outer surfaces of the great toe, and the inner surface of the second, are supplied by the dorsalis pollicis branch of the anterior tibial: these too may be termed digital branches, that one which is situated in the most internal interosseous space being the fifth digital artery, and that on the inside of the great toe being the sixth. As in the fingers, the terminating branches of the digital arteries which run at each side of the toes, keep up a free anastomosis with each other at the under surface of each of the ungual phalanges: each anastomosis forms an arch the convexity of which is directed forwards.

Fig. 71. Arteries of the Sole of the Foot.

1, Posterior Tibial Artery dividing into 2, the Internal, and 3, the External Plantar Arteries. 4, Branch to the Inner side of the Foot. 5, Branch to the Great Toe. 6, Plantar Arch. 7, Perforating Arteries. 8, Common Digitals. 9, Digitals to the contiguous sides of the Toes. 10, Calcanean Branches of the Peroneal and Posterior Tibial Arteries.