Distal perforating artery

Looks like

Small vessels near the heads of the long foot bones that pass between them from the sole to the top of the foot.

What it does

Link the plantar and dorsal metatarsal arteries so the toes get blood from both sides.

Keeping it well

Of interest to surgeons and radiologists; these links let the toes survive when one arterial route is blocked.

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