Superficial branch of medial plantar artery
Ramus superficialis arteriae plantaris medialis
One of the two terminal branches of the medial plantar artery, supplying the skin and superficial tissues of the medial side of the sole.
At a glance
- English
- Superficial branch of medial plantar artery
- Latin (TA2)
- Ramus superficialis arteriae plantaris medialis
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Foot
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the superficial branch of medial plantar artery
The medial plantar artery is the smaller terminal branch of the posterior tibial artery. It begins under the flexor retinaculum, enters the sole deep to abductor hallucis and runs forwards between that muscle and flexor digitorum brevis, alongside the medial plantar nerve. Along its course it divides into a deep branch and a superficial branch.
The superficial branch is the one that keeps to the surface. It runs forwards along the medial part of the sole, close to the plantar aponeurosis, and supplies the skin, the subcutaneous fat and the superficial fascia of the medial side of the sole. It also sends twigs to abductor hallucis. Towards the forefoot it often gives small superficial digital branches that run with the digital branches of the medial plantar nerve, and in many people it ends along the medial side of the great toe. The deep branch, by contrast, goes deeper and supplies mainly the muscles of the great toe.
The arteries of the sole are richly linked, and the superficial branch shares in this through its connections with the plantar metatarsal arteries of the first space and with the arteries of the great toe.
The branch has particular value in reconstructive surgery. The skin of the medial arch, the instep, does not bear weight, yet it is thick and of the same kind as the skin of the heel. Supplied through the medial plantar artery and its superficial branch, it can be raised as the medial plantar (instep) flap and turned to cover defects of the heel, replacing like with like.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- Arises from the medial plantar artery in the sole, between abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis.
- Ends in
- Ends in small branches along the medial sole and, in many people, along the medial side of the great toe, linking with the arteries of the first space and the hallux.
- Supplies
- Supplies the skin, fat and superficial fascia of the medial side of the sole and part of abductor hallucis.
Anthromica
See the superficial branch of medial plantar artery 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.
