Table of Contents
Overview
Arteries of the foot
This image demonstrates the arterial network of the foot, formed by the branches of the two main arteries; dorsalis pedis artery (branch of the anterior tibial artery) and medial and lateral plantar arteries (branches of the posterior tibial artery). Notice the anastomoses and arterial arches that these vessels form in order to supply the foot.
Nerves of the foot
At first glance, the trajectory of the neural network seems similar to the arterial one. The difference is that all these branches come from as many as 5 nerves. Notice how the dorsum of the foot is supplied mainly by the branches of the superficial and deep fibular, tibial, and sural nerves. The cutaneous innervation of this area is supplied by the saphenous nerve. Finally, the sole of the foot is mainly innervated by the branches of the tibial nerve (medial and lateral plantar nerves).
Keypoints
| Arteries of the foot (branches) |
Dorsalis pedis artery: Lateral and medial tarsal artery, arcuate artery, deep plantar artery Posterior tibial artery: Medial plantar artery, lateral plantar artery Deep plantar arch: Lateral plantar artery, deep plantar artery Superficial plantar arch: Lateral plantar artery, superficial branch of the medial plantar artery |
| Nerves of the foot |
Superficial fibular nerve: Medial dorsal cutaneous nerve of foot, intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve of foot Deep fibular nerve: Dorsal digital branches Tibial nerve: Sural, medial calcaneal and medial and lateral plantar nerves |
| Muscular innervation |
Tibial nerve: Flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus muscles Medial plantar nerve: Flexor hallucis brevis, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor hallucis and lumbrical muscles Lateral plantar nerve: Flexor digiti minimi brevis, flexor accessorius (quadratus plantae), abductor digiti minimi, dorsal and plantar interossei muscles, adductor hallucis and lumbrical muscles Deep fibular nerve: Extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum brevis muscles |
| Cutaneous innervation |
Dorsum of foot: Saphenous, superficial fibular, sural, deep fibular and lateral plantar nerves Sole of foot: Saphenous, medial plantar, lateral plantar, sural and tibial nerves |
Atlas of Arteries and nerves of the foot
Anterior tibial artery (Arteria tibialis anterior)
anterior view
Dorsalis pedis artery (Arteria dorsalis pedis)
superior view
Lateral tarsal artery (Arteria tarsea lateralis)
superior view
Medial tarsal arteries (Arteriae tarseae mediales)
superior view
Arcuate artery (Arteria arcuata)
superior view
Dorsal metatarsal arteries (Arteriae metatarseae dorsales)
superior view
Digital arteries of foot (Arteriae digitales pedis)
anterior view
Posterior tibial artery (Arteria tibialis posterior)
anterior view
Medial plantar artery (Arteria plantaris medialis)
inferior view
Lateral plantar artery (Arteria plantaris lateralis)
inferior view
Plantar arch (Arcus plantaris)
inferior view
Plantar metatarsal arteries (Arteriae metatarseae plantares)
inferior view
Deep fibular nerve (Nervus fibularis profundus)
anterior view
Sural nerve (Nervus suralis)
posterior view
Lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve of foot (Nervus cutaneus dorsalis lateralis pedis)
superior view
Intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve of foot (Nervus cutaneus dorsalis intermedius pedis)
superior view
Medial dorsal cutaneous nerve of foot (Nervus cutaneus dorsalis medialis pedis)
superior view
Dorsal digital nerves of foot (Nervi digitales dorsales pedis)
superior view
Lateral plantar nerve (Nervus plantaris lateralis)
inferior view
Deep branch of lateral plantar nerve (Ramus profundus nervi plantaris lateralis)
inferior view
Superficial branch of lateral plantar nerve (Ramus superficialis nervi plantaris lateralis)
inferior view
Reference
- https://kenhub.com
