Origins of the dorsal metatarsal arteries in humans.

The foot is indispensable for man's daily activities and the integrity of its structure depends on its irrigation. The number of bypass operations for its arteries therefore increases as well as the use of vascularised flaps to cover defects in its dorsal region. To find out more details about the irrigation of the dorsum of foot, the formation of dorsal metatarsal arteries (DMA) was examined in 50 feet of 25 fixed cadavers of Brazilian adults of both sexes.

Innervation of the abductor digiti minimi muscle of the human foot: anatomical basis of the entrapment of the abductor digiti minimi nerve.

The origin, relationships and innervation of the abductor digiti minimi muscle were determined in 145 human feet, from formaldehyde-fixed cadavers. The muscle arises from both processes of the calcaneal tuberosity, from the plantar aponeurosis and from the septum which separates it from the flexor digitorum brevis muscle. The nerve to the abductor digiti minimi muscle arises next to the origin of the lateral plantar nerve, close to the abductor hallucis muscle, and descends becoming closely related to the medial face of the calcaneus and the deep face of the abductor hallucis muscle.