Lower limb
Dorsal venous network and arch of foot
Rete venosum dorsale pedis et arcus venosus dorsalis pedis
- Origin
- Subcutaneous venous plexus on the dorsum of the foot fed by dorsal digital and metatarsal veins
- Insertion
- Continues medially as the medial marginal vein into the great saphenous vein and laterally into the small saphenous vein
- Function
- Collects superficial venous blood from the dorsal foot and digits
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor fibers
- Movement & chain
- Superficial veins that distend upon dependency
- Palpation
- Prominently visible and palpable across the dorsal foot skeleton
- Clinical
- Dependent pitting edema in congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, and deep venous thrombosis
- Segmental innervation
- Superficial foot venous network
- In clinical practice
- Site for peripheral IV access when upper limb veins are unavailable; assessment of pitting edema
- Region in the model
- Lower limb