Lower limb
Dorsal digital arteries of the foot
Arteriae digitales dorsales pedis
- Origin
- Terminal branches of the dorsal metatarsal arteries, at the level of the metatarsal heads
- Insertion
- Run along both sides of the dorsum of the toes as far as the nail fold
- Function
- Supply the skin and nail bed on the dorsal side of the toes
- Innervation
- Sympathetic fibres through the accompanying plexus
- Movement & chain
- Constrict strongly in cold, which explains the pale or blue discolouration of toes
- Palpation
- Capillary refill of the toe (normally under two seconds) and assessment of colour and temperature
- Clinical
- Critical ischaemia with necrosis of the toe tips, blue toe syndrome from microemboli, wound healing problems after toe amputation
- Segmental innervation
- Sympathetic L1-L2
- In clinical practice
- A dark toe in a person with diabetes: do not wait, arrange vascular assessment the same day
- Region in the model
- Lower limb