Dorsum of Foot

Sensory Nerve Supply

It is primarily derived from superficial fibular
nerve, assisted by deep fibular, saphenous and
sural nerves.
Superficial Fibular Nerve emerges from between
the fibularis brevis and extensor digitorum
longus muscle in lower part of leg and divides
into medial and lateral cutaneous branches
that supply skin on dorsum of foot.


Deep fibular Nerve supplies the skin around big
toe and second toe.

Saphenous Nerve supplies skin along the medial
side of foot upto head of 1
st
Meta-tarsal.

Sural Nerve supplies skin along lateral margin of
foot.
Dorsal Venous Arch
It lies in the subcutaneous tissue over heads of
metatarsal bones and drains on the medial
side into the great saphenous vein and on the
lateral side into the small saphenous vein.
Great saphenous vein ascends into the leg in
front of medial malleolus.


Muscles of Dorsum of Foot
1. Extensor digitorum brevis
2. Insertion of Extensor digitorum longus
Extensor Digitorum Brevis
Origin: Anterior part of upper surface of
calcaneum and from the inferior extensor
retinaculum.
Insertion: By four tendons into proximal phalanx
of big toe and long extensor tendons to 2
nd
,
3
rd
, 4
th
toes.
Nerve Supply: Deep Fibular
Action: Extension of Toes
EDL
The tendon of extensor digitorum longus passes
beneath the extensor retinaculi, and divides
into four slips, which fan out over the dorsum
of foot and pass to the lateral four toes. Above
the metatarso-phalangeal joints of 2
nd
, 3
rd
, 4
th

toes, each EDL tendon is joined by a tendon of
ED brevis.
The extensor tendons join a fascial expansion
called Extensor Expansion.
continued
The extensor Expansion splits into three parts;
Central part: inserted into base of middle
phalanx
Lateral parts(2) which insert into base of distal
phalanx.


Arterial Supply
Via Dorsalis Pedis Artery and its branches(lateral
tarsal artery, arcuate artery, first dorsal
metatarsal artery)
Begins in front of ankle joint as continuation of
anterior tibial artery. Terminates by passing
downwards in the sole between the two
heads of the first dorsal interosseus muscle,
where it joins the lateral plantar artery and
completes the plantar arch.


a. deep plantar artery
b. dorsalis pedis artery
c. anterior tibial artery

Nerve Supply
Deep Fibular Nerve. It enters the dorsum of foot
by passing deep to extensor retinacula on
lateral side of dorsalis pedis artery. It divides
into terminal, medial and lateral branches.
Medial branch supplies the skin around big
and second toes. Lateral branch supplies ED
brevis. Two terminal branches give articular
branches to joints of foot.