CHAP. XL. Of the Muscles moving the Toes of the Feet.
NOw follow the Muscles moving the Toes; these are eight in number,* 1.1 one on the upper and seven on the lower side. The first proceeds from the Pastern, Heel, and Die-bones below the external Ankle, or the ligament of these Bones with the Leg-bone; and ob∣liquely stretched to the top of the foot is parted into five small tendons to the sides of the five Toes, so to draw them outwards towards it original,* 1.2 whereupon it is called the Abductor of the Toes, and also Pediosus, because it is stretched over the Pedium, or back of the foot.
The first of the seven of the lower side called the flexor superior, or upper-bender, arises from the heel; and stretched alongst the foot under the strong membrane, (which from the heel is strait∣ly fastned to the extremity of the bones of the Pedium to strengthen the parts contained under it) is inserted by four tendons, at the second joint of the four toes which it bends. Here you must note, that neer the insertion thereof, this muscle divides its self, like that muscle of the hand which is called sublimis, that so it may give way to the deep, which (as we said) descends alongst the fingers, to which a certain common membranous ligament adjoyns it self, which involves and fastens it to the bone all alongst the lower part of the fingers, even to the last dearticulation.
The second equivalent to that muscle of the Hand which is called Thenar,* 1.3 seated on the inner side of the foot, arises from the inner and hollow part of the Heel and Pastern-bones, and ends in the side, and inner part of the great Toe, which it draws from the rest, inwards: This may be di∣vided into two or three muscles, as the Thenar of the hand, to draw the great Toe to the rest, as much as need requires, just as we said of the Hand. The third answerable to that of the hand which is named the Hyp••thenar, passes from the outer part of the Heel, and ascending by the sides of the foot it is in like manner inserted into the side of the little Toe, so to draw it from the rest; to which same action a certaine flesh contained under the sole of the feet may serve, which is stretched even to these Toes, that also it may serve to hollow the foot. The four Lumbrici,* 1.4 or Wormy-muscles follow next, which from the membrane of the deep Toe-bender are inserted into the inner and side part of the four toes, so to draw them inwards by a motion contrary to that which is perform∣ed by the P••diosus. The Interosses or bone-bound Muscles of the Pedium or back of the foot, re∣main to be spoken of: These are eight in number, four above, and as many below,* 1.5 different in their original, insertion, and action; for the upper, because they draw the foot outwards with the pediosus, arise from the fore and inner part of that bone of the Pedium, which bears up the little toe (and so also the rest each in its order) are inserted into the outward and fore-part of the following bone. The lower, on the contrary, pass from the fore and outer part of that bone of the Pedium, which bears up the great Toe (and so each of the rest in its order), but are inserted into the inner and upper part of the following bone, so with the wormy-muscles to draw it inwards, or to hollow the foot outwards, or to flat the foot, as we said of the Interosses of the hand.