The tibial nerve divides at the tarsus into two plantar branches. The internal plantar nerve descends along the inner border of the superficial flexor tendon and divides near the middle of the metatarsus into two branches. Of these, the internal branch constitutes the first plantar common digital nerve (N. dig. comm. plant. I). The outer branch descends on the superficial flexor tendon and divides into three plantar metatarsal nerves (Nn. met. plant. II, III, IV), which unite with the plantar common digital nerves. The external plantar nerve passes down between the flexor tendons, sends twigs to the muscles on the plantar surface of the metatarsus, and divides into three plantar common digital nerves (Nn. dig. comm, plant. II, III, IV). These descend with the deep plantar metatarsal arteries in the second, third, and fourth intermetatarsal spaces, receive the plantar metatarsal nerves, and divide into plantar proper digital nerves, which pass down the opposed surfaces of the second to the fifth digits.

The sympathetic system presents few special features worthy of mention. The superior cervical ganglion lies above the ganglion nodosum close to the cranial base and internal to the origin of the internal carotid and occipital arteries. It forms connections directly or through the carotid plexus with the last seven cranial and first cervical nerves. The cervical trunk unites with the vagus so intimately as to form a vago-sympathetic trunk. There may be a small middle cervical ganglion in front of the inferior cervical ganglion. The latter is usually distinct from the first thoracic ganglion, which is stellate and lies on the longus colli opposite the second rib and intercostal space.