Lower limb
Dorsalis pedis artery (Dorsal artery of foot)
Arteria dorsalis pedis
- Origin
- Direct continuation of the anterior tibial artery at the anterior ankle joint line
- Insertion
- Passes over the tarsal bones to the first intermetatarsal space, gives off arcuate and tarsal branches, and dives into the sole as the deep plantar artery
- Function
- Major arterial supplier of the dorsal foot and toes, providing a vital anastomotic bridge to the deep plantar arch
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor fibers carried by the deep fibular nerve
- Movement & chain
- Superficial course between extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus tendons
- Palpation
- Readily palpable on the dorsum of the foot just lateral to the extensor hallucis longus tendon (dorsalis pedis pulse)
- Clinical
- Crucial peripheral pulse site; diminution indicates upstream arterial obstruction; essential landmark in diabetic foot exams
- Segmental innervation
- L4–S1 spinal segments
- In clinical practice
- Universal peripheral pulse check in vascular surgery, podiatry, and emergency trauma assessment
- Region in the model
- Lower limb