Intercapitular veins of foot
Venae intercapitulares pedis
Short connecting veins that pass between the heads of the metatarsal bones, carrying blood from the sole of the foot up to the dorsal veins.
At a glance
- English
- Intercapitular veins of foot
- Latin (TA2)
- Venae intercapitulares pedis
- System
- Vein
- Region
- Foot
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the intercapitular veins of foot
The intercapitular veins of the foot are small communicating vessels lying in the webs of the toes. They take their name from their position between the heads (capita) of neighbouring metatarsal bones, through which they pass from the plantar to the dorsal side of the foot. There is usually one in each interdigital space, running alongside the deep transverse metatarsal ligament.
Each begins on the plantar side, where it arises from the plantar digital veins and the superficial venous network of the sole near the base of the toes, close to the start of the plantar metatarsal veins. It then runs upwards between the metatarsal heads and opens on the dorsum into the dorsal digital veins, just where two of these unite in the toe cleft to form a common dorsal metatarsal vein. From there the blood passes into the dorsal venous arch and on into the great and small saphenous veins.
Their main role is to link the venous systems of the sole and the back of the foot. The sole carries the weight of the body, and during standing and walking its veins are compressed. The intercapitular veins provide a route by which the blood squeezed out of the plantar tissues can escape upwards to the dorsal veins, which are not compressed in the same way. This forms part of the venous pump of the foot, which works together with the calf muscle pump to return blood from the lower limb against gravity.
These veins are too small to have importance on their own in clinical work. Their existence helps explain why swelling and congestion of the foot often show first on the dorsum, and why the dorsal veins enlarge when venous return from the sole is obstructed.
Course and drainage
- Begins at
- Arise on the plantar side from the plantar digital veins and the plantar venous network near the bases of the toes.
- Drains into
- Pass between the metatarsal heads to open into the dorsal digital veins in the toe clefts, where they form the dorsal metatarsal veins.
- Drains
- Carry blood from the sole of the foot to the dorsal veins, forming part of the venous pump of the foot.
Anthromica
See the intercapitular veins 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.
