2 CASES OF THE SUPERFICIAL DORSALIS-PEDIS ARTERY OBSERVED IN MAN

A superficial dorsalis pedis artery was found in two (0.7%) of 296 Jap anese feet. The sciatic and saphenous arteries were not present. This artery arose from the anterior tibial artery at the ankle, penetrated the inferior extensor retinaculum and ran forward over the deep fascia of the foot. The artery gave off a superficial dorsal metatarsal arte ry and continued into the deep plantar branch perforating the first do rsal interosseous muscle. In the second case, a thin deep dorsalis ped is artery anastomosed with the superficial dorsalis pedis artery to fo rm an arterial circle surrounding the tendons of the extensor hallucis muscles. In man, the saphenous artery usually degenerates and therefo re the superficial dorsalis pedis artery has not hitherto been recorde d. The origin of this artery is considered to be a remnant of the dist al part of the saphenous artery or an enlarged by-pass supplying the c utaneous nerves and subcutaneous tissue.