Quick Facts
Origin: Continuation of the dorsal digital veins of the foot.
Course: Pass within the intermetatarsal spaces and unite in a dorsal venous arch.
Tributaries: Intercapitular veins.
Drainage: Dorsal surface of the foot.
Origin
The dorsal metatarsal veins are the continuation of the dorsal digital veins at the clefts of the toes.
Course
The dorsal metatarsal veins pass proximally in the intermetatarsal spaces and unite to form the dorsal venous arch at the proximal end of the metatarsal bones.
Tributaries
The dorsal metatarsal veins receive the intercapitular veins, short vessels that pass between the heads of the metatarsal bones and connecting to the plantar metatarsal veins. These veins tend not to have any valves and the blood flow is bidirectional. In some instances valves may be present and face towards the superficial system, thus, allowing blood to pass from the plantar to dorsal systems (Kelikian, 2012).
Structures Drained
The dorsal metatarsal veins drain blood from the dorsal aspect of the foot.
References
Kelikian, A. S. (2012) Sarrafian's Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle: Descriptive, Topographic, Functional. Wolters Kluwer Health.
