Lower limb
Deep plantar arch
Arcus plantaris profundus
- Origin
- Formed by the anastomosis of the lateral plantar artery with the deep plantar branch of the dorsalis pedis artery
- Insertion
- Lies against the bases of the metatarsals deep to adductor hallucis; gives off plantar metatarsal arteries
- Function
- Primary source of oxygenated blood to all digits (via plantar digital arteries) and deep forefoot structures
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor fibers
- Movement & chain
- Fixed against the deep tarsometatarsal skeletal plane
- Palpation
- Not palpable beneath deep intrinsic foot muscles
- Clinical
- Dual inflow network (anterior tibial via dorsalis pedis + posterior tibial via lateral plantar) preserving toe perfusion during segmental arterial occlusions
- Segmental innervation
- L5–S2 spinal segments
- In clinical practice
- Angiographic patency of the deep plantar arch is the single best predictor of limb salvage in diabetic critical limb ischemia
- Region in the model
- Lower limb