The plantar arch is a
circulatory anastomosis
A circulatory anastomosis is a connection (an anastomosis) between two blood vessels, such as between arteries (arterio-arterial anastomosis), between veins (veno-venous anastomosis) or between an artery and a vein (arterio-venous anastomosis). ...
formed from:
*
deep plantar artery
The deep plantar artery (ramus plantaris profundus; communicating artery) descends into the sole of the foot, between the two heads of the 1st interosseous dorsalis, and unites with the termination of the lateral plantar artery, to complete the pl ...
, from the
dorsalis pedis
In human anatomy, the dorsalis pedis artery (dorsal artery of foot) is a blood vessel of the lower limb. It arises from the anterior tibial artery, and ends at the first intermetatarsal space (as the first dorsal metatarsal artery and the deep ...
- a.k.a. dorsal artery of the foot
*
lateral plantar artery
The lateral plantar artery (external plantar artery), much larger than the medial, passes obliquely lateralward and forward to the base of the fifth metatarsal bone.
It then turns medialward to the interval between the bases of the first and secon ...
The plantar arch supplies the underside, or sole, of the foot.
The plantar arch runs from the 5th
metatarsal
The metatarsal bones, or metatarsus, are a group of five long bones in the foot, located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the me ...
and extends medially to the 1st
metatarsal
The metatarsal bones, or metatarsus, are a group of five long bones in the foot, located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the me ...
(of the big toe).
The arch is formed when the
lateral plantar artery
The lateral plantar artery (external plantar artery), much larger than the medial, passes obliquely lateralward and forward to the base of the fifth metatarsal bone.
It then turns medialward to the interval between the bases of the first and secon ...
turns medially to the interval between the bases of the first and second
metatarsal
The metatarsal bones, or metatarsus, are a group of five long bones in the foot, located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the me ...
bones, where it unites with the deep plantar branch of the
dorsalis pedis artery
In human anatomy, the dorsalis pedis artery (dorsal artery of foot) is a blood vessel of the lower limb. It arises from the anterior tibial artery, and ends at the first intermetatarsal space (as the first dorsal metatarsal artery and the deep pl ...
, thus completing the plantar arch (or deep plantar arch).
References
External links
* http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_17/17-3.HTM
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Arteries of the lower limb