Bilateral absence of the arcuate artery on the dorsum of the foot: With anomalous origin of dorsal metatarsal arteries

Bilateral absence of the arcuate artery was observed during routine dissection of the lower limbs of a 60-year-old male cadaver. Running distally on the dorsal aspect of both feet and opposite the tarso-metatarsal joint, the dorsalis pedis artery diverged 2cm lateral to the tendon of the extensor hallucis longus. The 2nd dorsal metatarsal artery was found originating from the dorsalis pedis artery opposite the intermediate cuneiform bone. The 3rd and 4th dorsal metatarsal arteries originated from the lateral tarsal artery. Although absence of the arcuate artery has been previously described, the arterial variant described here is thought to be distinct from those previously reported. The variant 2^nd dorsal metatarsal artery was found to originate from the dorsalis pedis artery. Knowledge of anatomical variations of arteries supplying the feet and toes has important clinical significance in reconstructive surgery and in determining associated pathology.