Dorsal venous arch of the foot
The dorsal venous arch of the foot is superficially located. For most people, it should be easy to spot on their foot's upper side. If a person were to press their finger against it, they should be able to detect a pulse. The pulse is from the dorsalis pedis artery.
The arch assists in draining deoxygenated blood from the foot. Also, it receives blood from the dorsal metatarsal veins, which drains the foot's metatarsal region and drains the dorsal digital veins servicing the toes. From there, the arch drains its deoxygenated blood to the small and large saphenous veins. Eventually, the blood flows into many other vessels in the venous system, as it travels up the leg and back to the lungs and the heart.
The dorsal venous arch of the foot works complimentary to arteries in the region, like the arcuate artery of the foot, which is also referred to as the metatarsal artery. Unlike veins, these arterial vessels deliver oxygenated blood from the longs and heart, which enables the functionality of the foot's muscles, tendons and ligaments.
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Written and medically reviewed by the Healthline Editorial Team
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In Depth: Dorsal venous arch of the foot
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