Left arcuate artery

Looks like

A curved branch of the dorsalis pedis artery running outward over the bases of the long foot bones.

What it does

Gives off the dorsal metatarsal arteries for the second to fourth toe spaces.

Keeping it well

Often small or missing, with other vessels taking over; mainly of interest to foot surgeons.

Related conditions

• Achilles tendon rupture
• Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans)
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Compartment syndrome
• Growing pains
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Lymphangitis
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Restless legs syndrome
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Superficial thrombophlebitis
• Varicose veins
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)
• Venomous snakebite