Lab 7 - Module 4 - The Foot: Page 8 of 8

Arteries of the Plantar Foot:

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The posterior tibial artery takes the same path into the plantar foot as the tibial nerve. The artery divides into the medial plantar and lateral plantar arteries.

Add the Posterior Tibial Artery.

Add the Medial Plantar artery.

• Passes between the abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis.

• It supplies branches to the medial side of the great (big) toe.

• It sends a branch deep to become part of the deep plantar arch but it is an insignificant contribution.

Add the Lateral Plantar artery.

• Passes laterally between the flexor digitorum brevis and quadratus plantae. It sends a deep branch medial to anastomose with the deep plantar branch of the dorsalis pedis artery (from the dorsum of the foot). The anastomosis between those two arteries comprise the deep plantar arch and give rise to 4 plantar metatarsal arteries which give rise to common digital arteries.

	The Tarsal Tunnel provides access to the plantar foot. What structures pass through the Tarsal Tunnel?
• Tendon of the Tibialis Posterior • Tendon of the Flexor Digitorum Longus • Posterior Tibial Artery • Tibial Vein • Tibial Nerve • Tendon of the Flexor Hallucis Longus