Plantar metatarsal arteries

At a glance

English

Plantar metatarsal arteries

Latin (TA2)

Arteriae metatarseae plantares

System

Artery

Region

Foot

Side

Paired, left and right

About the plantar metatarsal arteries

The plantar metatarsal arteries are the forward branches of the deep plantar arch. There is one for each of the four intermetatarsal spaces. They leave the convex front edge of the arch and run towards the toes between the metatarsal bones, lying against the interosseous muscles in the deepest, fourth layer of the sole.

The first plantar metatarsal artery is the largest and is sometimes called the principal artery of the great toe. It arises where the deep plantar artery joins the lateral plantar artery, runs along the first space, gives the great toe a branch for its medial border, and then divides for the facing sides of the first and second toes. The second, third and fourth arteries come from the arch itself.

As each artery approaches the toe clefts it divides into a pair of common and then proper plantar digital arteries for the toe webs and the facing borders of neighbouring toes. Close to that point of division each sends a distal perforating branch upwards through the space to meet the dorsal metatarsal artery of the same space, linking the two surfaces of the forefoot. The lateral side of the little toe is supplied separately, by a twig that the lateral plantar artery gives off close to the fifth metatarsal base.

These vessels carry most of the blood to the toes, and the plantar digital arteries are the dominant supply to their pulps. Small branches from the medial plantar artery reinforce the first three of them.

Course and supply

Arises from

The forward convex border of the plantar arch; the first from where the deep plantar artery joins the lateral plantar artery.

Ends in

Each divides near the toe clefts into plantar digital arteries for the adjacent sides of two toes.

Supplies

Supply the interosseous muscles, the plantar forefoot and the plantar surfaces of the toes.