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Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics

Anterior Tibial / Dorsalis Pedis Arteries



- See posterior tibial artery

- Anatomy:
    - anterior tibial artery passes from behind through gap above interosseous membrane to enter anterior compartment of leg and supply its muscles;
    - as it crosses membrane, it gives off a  recurrent branch;
    - it continues on dorsum of foot as dorsalis pedis artery, which gives off medial and lateral tarsal branches,    and ends by dividing into arcuate artery and the larger deep plantar artery;
    - arcuate artery has three metatarsal branches that, in turn, divide into dorsal digital arteries;
         - deep plantar artery sends digital branches to great toe and second toe and passes between heads of the first dorsal interosseous muscle to the plantar surface;

- Exposure:
    - anterior tibial artery is exposed thru a longitudinal incision in lateral calf over the mid portion of anterior compartment;
    - dense fascia of the anterior compartment is incised and dissection deepened between the bellies of the long extensors;
    - tibialis anterior and EHL muscle bodies are frequently fused, and neurovascular bundle is usually exposed between these and the extensor digitorum muscle;
    - here artery, its paired tibial veins, and the tibial nerve lie along surface of the interosseous membrane;
    - presence of a dorsalis pedis pulse does not rule out injury to A.T.A., since there may be retrograde blood flow from posterior tibial artery;


Prevalence and surgical significance of a high-origin anterior tibial artery.

Arterial injury complicating knee disruption. Third place winner: Conrad Jobst award.

Successful management of trifurcation injuries.

Arteriography in club foot.

Optimal management of tibial arterial trauma.

Optimal management of tibial arterial trauma.  Shah, D. M., Corson, J. D., Karmody, A. M., Fortune, J. B., and Leather, R. P.:  J. Trauma 28:228, 1968.

Traumatic popliteal and trifurcation vascular injuries: Determinants of functional limb salvage.   Whitman, G. R., McCroskey, B. L., Moore, E. E., Pearce, W. H., and Moore, F. A.:  Am. J. Surg. 154:681, 1987.

Microarterial anatomy of the lesser toe proximal interphalangeal joints.   Y.G. Chen MD.  et al.  J. Hand Surg. Vol 23-A. No 2. March 1998. p 256.







Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.

Last updated by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD on Monday, December 1, 2008 7:25 am