Dorsal venous arch of foot
Arcus venosus dorsalis pedis
A superficial venous arch across the top of the foot that collects blood from the toes and gives rise to both saphenous veins.
At a glance
- English
- Dorsal venous arch of foot
- Latin (TA2)
- Arcus venosus dorsalis pedis
- System
- Vein
- Region
- Foot
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the dorsal venous arch of foot
Across the back of the foot runs the dorsal venous arch, a curved superficial vein lying in the subcutaneous tissue. It sits over the metatarsal bones, roughly halfway between the ankle joint and the joints at the bases of the toes, with its convexity facing forward towards the toes. In a barefoot person it can usually be seen and felt through the skin, especially when standing or after warming.
Along its front edge the arch receives the dorsal metatarsal veins, each formed by two dorsal digital veins meeting in a toe cleft. It also receives many small veins from the dorsal venous network of the foot and perforating veins from the deep veins of the sole, which pass between the metatarsal bones.
At each end the arch turns back towards the ankle. Medially it is joined by the dorsal digital vein from the inner side of the great toe and by the medial marginal vein; this union forms the great saphenous vein, which runs up in front of the medial malleolus. Laterally it meets the dorsal digital vein from the outer side of the little toe and the lateral marginal vein, forming the small saphenous vein, which passes behind the lateral malleolus. The arch is therefore the common starting point of the two main superficial veins of the lower limb, and it links them to each other.
Clinically the arch and its tributaries are a convenient site for placing an intravenous cannula when the arm veins are hard to use, particularly in infants. Because it lies just under thin skin over bone, it is also easily bruised. Swelling or prominence of the arch may accompany raised venous pressure in the leg.
Course and drainage
- Begins at
- Formed by the dorsal metatarsal veins and the dorsal venous network of the foot, with perforating veins from the sole.
- Drains into
- Its medial end continues as the great saphenous vein and its lateral end as the small saphenous vein.
- Drains
- Drains the toes and the skin of the dorsum of the foot, and connects the two saphenous veins.
Anthromica
See the dorsal venous arch of foot where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
