The foot pulse artery
Dorsalis pedis artery · arteria dorsalis pedis
The artery on the top of your foot where a foot pulse can be felt.
What it does
The dorsalis pedis artery continues from the anterior tibial artery across the front of the ankle onto the top of the foot. It runs towards the gap between the first and second toes and joins the arteries of the sole.
Surprising fact
It can usually be felt just beside the tendon that lifts your big toe, but in a small minority of healthy people it is absent or hard to find.
Why it matters
A strong foot pulse is reassuring evidence of good circulation, which is why it is checked in diabetes clinics and after leg injuries.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.