The plantar arch is a
circulatory anastomosis
A circulatory anastomosis is a connection (an anastomosis) between two blood vessels, such as between arteries (arterio-arterial anastomosis), between veins (veno-venous anastomosis) or between an artery and a vein (arterio-venous anastomosi ...
formed from:
*
deep plantar artery, from the
dorsalis pedis - a.k.a. dorsal artery of the foot
*
lateral plantar artery
The plantar arch supplies the underside, or sole, of the foot.
The plantar arch runs from the 5th
metatarsal
The metatarsal bones or metatarsus (: metatarsi) are a group of five long bones in the midfoot, located between the tarsal bones (which form the heel and the ankle) and the phalanges ( toes). Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are ...
and extends medially to the 1st
metatarsal
The metatarsal bones or metatarsus (: metatarsi) are a group of five long bones in the midfoot, located between the tarsal bones (which form the heel and the ankle) and the phalanges ( toes). Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are ...
(of the big toe).
The arch is formed when the
lateral plantar artery turns medially to the interval between the bases of the first and second
metatarsal
The metatarsal bones or metatarsus (: metatarsi) are a group of five long bones in the midfoot, located between the tarsal bones (which form the heel and the ankle) and the phalanges ( toes). Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are ...
bones, where it unites with the deep plantar branch of the
dorsalis pedis artery
In human anatomy, the dorsalis pedis artery (dorsal artery of foot) is a blood vessel of the lower limb. It arises from the anterior tibial artery, and ends at the first intermetatarsal space (as the first dorsal metatarsal artery and the deep pla ...
, thus completing the plantar arch (or deep plantar arch).
References
External links
* http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_17/17-3.HTM
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Arteries of the lower limb