ARTERIAL DEFINITIONS

Question 1

• the posterior branch of the posterior tibial artery
• usually larger than the medial plantar artery
• passes anterolaterally toward the 5th metatarsal styloid process; dorsal to the flexor digitorum brevis muscle and plantar to the quadratus plantae muscle, intermediate to layers 1 and 2

Answer 1

Lateral Plantar Artery

Question 2

• a small lateral branch from the lateral plantar artery as the course turns sharply medial near the 5th metatarsal base
• passes distally intermediate to the abductor digiti minimi muscle (plantar lateral) and flexor digiti minimi brevis muscle (dorsomedial); becomes more superficial near midshaft of the 5th metatarsal
• terminates in the 5th toe where it supplies the toe’s plantar lateral aspect

Answer 2

(Proper) Digital Plantar Artery 10 / (Proper) Digital Plantar A. of Fifth Digit

Question 3

• the medially directed continuation of the lateral plantar artery
• passes medially at the metatarsal bases, dorsal to the oblique head of adductor hallucis muscle and plantar to the interossei muscles
  
  • intermediate to layers 3 and 4
• gives rise to 4 plantar metatarsal arteries and anastomoses with the deep plantar artery

Answer 3

Plantar Arterial Arch / Plantar Arch Artery

Question 4

• passes distally in the 4th intermetatarsal space; at the distal end it passes
  dorsal to the deep transverse metatarsal ligament

Answer 4

Fourth Plantar Metatarsal Artery

Question 5

• arises at the 4th proximal interspace and connects the 4th dorsal and plantar metatarsal arteries

Answer 5

Fourth Proximal Perforating Artery

Question 6

• passes to the medial aspect of the 5th metatarsal shaft and pierces it in its proximal one-third

Answer 6

Nutrient Artery to the 5th Metatarsal

Question 7

• arises at the distal 4th interspace and connects the 4th dorsal and plantar metatarsal arteries

Answer 7

Fourth Distal Perforating Artery

Question 8

• terminal divisions of the 4th plantar metatarsal artery
• generally arise distal to the deep transverse metatarsal ligament
• 9 supplies the medial plantar aspect of the 5th toe and 8 supplies the
  lateral plantar aspect of the 4th toe

Answer 8

(Proper) Digital Plantar Arteries 9 & 8

Question 9

• passes distally in the 3rd intermetatarsal space; passes dorsal to the deep
  transverse metatarsal ligament (DTML) at the distal end

Answer 9

Third Plantar Metatarsal Artery

Question 10

• arises at the 3rd proximal interspace and connects the 3rd dorsal and plantar metatarsal arteries

Answer 10

Third Proximal Perforating Artery

Question 11

• arises at the 3rd distal interspace and connects the 3rd dorsal and plantar metatarsal arteries

Answer 11

Third Distal Perforating Artery

Question 12

• terminal divisions of the 3rd plantar metatarsal artery
• generally arise distal to the deep transverse metatarsal ligament
• 7 supplies the medial plantar aspect of the 4th toe and 6 supplies the lateral plantar aspect of the 3rd toe

Answer 12

(Proper) Digital Plantar Arteries 7 & 6

Question 13

• passes distally in the 2nd intermetatarsal space; passes dorsal to the deep transverse metatarsal ligament

Answer 13

Second Plantar Metatarsal Artery

Question 14

• arises at the proximal 2nd interspace and connects the 2nd dorsal and plantar metatarsal arteries

Answer 14

Second Proximal Perforating Artery

Question 15

• arises at the distal 2nd interspace and connects the 2nd dorsal and plantar metatarsal arteries

Answer 15

Second Distal Perforating Artery

Question 16

• terminal divisions of the 2nd plantar metatarsal artery
• generally arise distal to the deep transverse metatarsal ligament
• 5 supplies the medial plantar aspect of the 3rd toe and 4 supplies the
  lateral plantar aspect of the 2nd toe

Answer 16

(Proper) Digital Plantar Arteries 5 & 4

Question 17

• arises at the anastomosis of the deep plantar artery / 1st proximal perforating artery and the plantar arterial arch
• passes distally in the 1st intermetatarsal space; passes dorsal to the deep
  transverse metatarsal ligament

Answer 17

First Plantar Metatarsal Artery

Question 18

• arises at the distal 1st interspace and connects the 1st dorsal and plantar
  metatarsal arteries

Answer 18

First Distal Perforating Artery

Question 19

• terminal divisions of the 1st plantar metatarsal artery
• artery 3 supplies the medial plantar aspect of the 2nd toe and artery 2 supplies the lateral plantar aspect of the hallux

Answer 19

(Proper) Digital Plantar Arteries 3 & 2

Question 20

• passes medially to anastomose with the proper digital plantar artery 1 / proper digital plantar artery of the hallux

Answer 20

Digital Branch of First Plantar Metatarsal Artery

Question 21

• the anterior branch of the posterior tibial artery
• usually smaller than the lateral plantar artery
• enters the foot through the porta pedis intermediate to plantar layers 1 and 2
• then passes along the medial aspect of the foot intermediate to the abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis muscles; within the 1st layer

Answer 21

Medial Plantar Artery

Question 22

• usually arises near the origin of the medial plantar artery
• passes along the plantar aspect of the medial foot bones and supplies them - anastomoses with the plantar arch artery and the 1st plantar metatarsal artery

Answer 22

Deep Branch / ramus profundus

Question 23

• appears as the direct continuation of the medial plantar artery and passes distally intermediate to the abductor hallucis (medial) and the flexor
  185 digitorum brevis (lateral) muscles; within the 1st layer

Answer 23

Superficial Branch

Question 24

• the medial division of the superficial branch of the medial plantar artery
• supplies the medial plantar aspect of the hallux

Answer 24

(Proper) Digital Plantar Artery 1 (of hallux)

Question 25

• the lateral division of the superficial branch of the medial plantar artery
• anastomoses with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd plantar metatarsal arteries
• occasionally provides small proper digital plantar arteries which pass plantar to the deep transverse metatarsal ligament in addition to the normal metatarsal arteries and proper digital plantar arteries

Answer 25

Superficial Digital Branch