Dorsalis pedis artery

The dorsalis pedis artery (or dorsal artery of foot, Latin: arteria dorsalis pedis) is a continuation of the anterior tibial artery. It supplies arterial blood to the dorsal surface of the foot.

The artery begins when the anterior tibial artery passes below the inferior extensor retinaculum, which is a Y-shaped band of connective tissue anterior to the ankle joint. It terminates at the proximal part of the first intermetatarsal space by dividing into two terminal branches.

The terminal branches of the dorsalis pedis artery are the deep plantar artery and the arcuate artery. On its course, the dorsalis pedis gives off some side branches, including the lateral tarsal artery and medial tarsal arteries.