4. At the Superior Border of the Lateral Cartilage, the Artery of the Plantar Cushion.  This is directed obliquely downwards and backwards, under cover of the cartilage, and is distributed to the middle portion of the complementary apparatus of the os pedis, as well as to the villous tissue and the coronet.  A branch of it is turned forwards to join with the coronary circle in forming the circumflex artery of the coronet.

[Illustration:  FIG. 14.—­THE ARTERIES OF THE FOOT.  The digital; 2, the perpendicular—­(a) its ascending branch, (b) its descending branch; 3, circumflex artery of coronary cushion; 4, the preplantar (ungual) artery—­this is seen issuing from the preplantar foramen, and distributing numerous ascending (c) and descending (d) branches (the latter concur in forming the circumflex artery of the toe); 5, the circumflex artery of the toe; 6, at the point marked (*) the terminal branch of the digital—­namely, the plantar ungual—­is hidden behind the lateral cartilage; 7, the lateral cartilage.]

5. Under the Lateral Cartilage two transverse branches, an anterior and a posterior, to form the Coronary Circle.  The numerous ramifications of these branches anastomose both anteriorly and posteriorly with their corresponding branches of the artery of the opposite side.  This circle closely embraces the os coronae.  Among the larger branches given off from its anterior portion are two descending, one on each side of the extensor pedis, to assist in the formation of the Circumflex Artery of the Coronary Cushion.  The formation of this last-named artery is completed posteriorly by the before-mentioned branch from the artery of the plantar cushion.

THE PREPLANTAR (UNGUAL[A]) ARTERY.—­This, the smaller of the two terminal branches of the digital, is situated inside the basilar process of the os pedis.  It turns round this to gain the fissure between the basilar and retrossal processes, and becomes lodged in the preplantar fissure.  Here it terminates in several divisions which bury themselves in the os pedis.  Before leaving the inner aspect of the pedal wing it supplies a deep branch to the heel and the villous tissue.  Gaining the outer aspect of the wing, it distributes a further backward branch, which passes behind the circumflex artery of the pedal bone, and, during its passage in the preplantar fissure, gives off ascending and descending branches, which ramify in the laminal tissue.

THE PLANTAR (UNGUAL[A]) ARTERY.—­This, the larger of the two terminals of the digital, may be looked upon as a continuation of the main vessel.  Running along the plantar groove, it gains the plantar foramen.  Here it enters the interior of the bone (the semilunar sinus) and anastomoses with the corresponding artery of the opposite side.  The circle of vessels so formed is called the Plantar Arch or the Semilunar Anastomosis.