Plantar metatarsal veins

At a glance

English

Plantar metatarsal veins

Latin (TA2)

Venae metatarseae plantares

System

Vein

Region

Foot

Side

Paired, left and right

About the plantar metatarsal veins

The plantar metatarsal veins are deep veins of the sole of the foot. Each lies in one of the spaces between neighbouring metatarsal bones, on the plantar side, beside the plantar metatarsal artery of the same space. They are usually paired as venae comitantes of these arteries and lie deep to the long flexor tendons, on the interosseous muscles.

Each vein begins near the base of the toes, where the plantar digital veins from the adjacent sides of two neighbouring toes come together. From there the veins pass backwards through the metatarsal spaces towards the heel, gathering small tributaries from the interosseous muscles and the bones. Along their course they are linked to the veins on the back of the foot by perforating veins, which pierce the interosseous spaces near the bases of the metatarsals and between their heads.

At the back of the metatarsal region the plantar metatarsal veins open into the deep plantar venous arch. This arch lies in the sole next to the deep plantar arterial arch, near the bases of the metatarsals. It drains into the lateral plantar veins, which join the medial plantar veins behind the medial malleolus to form the posterior tibial veins, so the blood joins the deep venous system of the leg.

These veins form part of the deep venous drainage of the foot. When the sole is compressed during standing or walking, blood in these veins is pushed onwards towards the posterior tibial veins and, through the perforating veins, to the dorsum. This plantar venous pump works with the calf muscle pump to return blood from the limb. Thrombosis of the deep veins can occasionally begin in the plantar veins of the foot.

Course and drainage

Begins at

Formed near the bases of the toes by the union of plantar digital veins from adjacent sides of neighbouring toes.

Drains into

Run back in the metatarsal spaces and open into the deep plantar venous arch.

Drains

Drain the toes, interosseous muscles and metatarsal bones into the deep veins of the sole, and through perforating veins connect with the dorsal veins.