Lower limb
Dorsal metatarsal arteries
Arteriae metatarsales dorsales
- Origin
- From the dorsal arterial arch of the foot, formed by the dorsalis pedis artery across the metatarsus
- Insertion
- Run distally in the intermetatarsal spaces and divide into the dorsal digital arteries
- Function
- Supply the dorsum of the metatarsus and contribute to the perfusion of the toes
- Innervation
- Sympathetic fibres through the perivascular plexus
- Movement & chain
- Flow rises with exercise and warmth and falls with cold or vasoconstriction
- Palpation
- Dorsalis pedis pulse lateral to the extensor hallucis longus tendon; capillary refill of the toes
- Clinical
- Peripheral arterial disease with cold, pale feet and slow capillary refill; critical ischaemia with rest pain and toe ulcers
- Segmental innervation
- Sympathetic L1-L2 through the sympathetic chain
- In clinical practice
- Foot checks in diabetes: pulses, colour, temperature and lesions between the toes belong to every consultation
- Region in the model
- Lower limb