Dorsalis Metatarsal Arteries

Description

Oriented from the ankle on the left to the toes on the right, the dorsal aspect of the male foot is opened to expose the dorsalis pedis artery continuing distally across the tarsus and giving rise to the dorsalis metatarsal arteries over the metatarsal shafts. Each dorsalis metatarsal artery courses in the intermetatarsal spaces and divides distally into dorsal digital arteries to the adjacent sides of the toes, lying superficial to the metatarsals but deep to the dorsal fascia and extensor tendons. Blue accompanying veins form paired venae comitantes and a superficial dorsal venous network, while finer light blue channels suggest cutaneous nerves or lymphatics tracking longitudinally toward the ankle. Bony landmarks including the tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges anchor the vascular map. Dorsal metatarsal arterial anatomy matters when perfusion to the forefoot is threatened or when the dorsal foot is approached surgically. Endovascular access, pedal bypass planning, and flap design for dorsal foot and toe reconstruction all depend on knowing where the dorsalis metatarsal arteries run and where they anastomose with the plantar system through perforating branches. This is also the level at which arterial calcification and stenosis in diabetes and peripheral arterial disease can produce toe ischemia, and where iatrogenic injury can occur during open reduction and internal fixation of metatarsal fractures or dorsal incisions for tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) procedures. Small vessels, high stakes. Use this plate for teaching lower-limb vascular anatomy in gross anatomy, podiatry curricula, and surgical anatomy modules on forefoot approaches, and for illustrating clinical content on pedal pulse assessment, angiography correlation, and diabetic foot revascularization strategies in textbooks or patient-facing education. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.