Description
The arterial supply to the ankle arises from three main vessels:
- the anterior tibial artery;
- the posterior tibial artery;
- the fibular artery.
In the foot, the anterior tibial artery continues as the dorsalis pedis artery and supplies the dorsal aspect of the foot. The plantar surface is supplied by the terminal branches of the posterior tibial artery, namely the medial and lateral plantar arteries.
Arterial variations in the ankle and foot are common due to the extent of collateral anastomosis. The textbook descriptions of the arteries are rarely seen in cadaveric or surgical dissections or in radiographic imaging (Tubbs, Shoja and Loukas, 2016).
Related parts of the anatomy
References
Tubbs, R. S., Shoja, M. M. and Loukas, M. (2016) Bergman's Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation. Wiley.
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Artery
Arteries are vessels transporting blood between heart, tissues, and other organs in order to supply them with nutrition and oxygen.
