Anat Cell Biol.  2022 Dec;55(4):504-506. 10.5115/acb.22.191.

Missing medial tarsal artery replaced by the anterior medial malleolar artery

• Choi DY
• Hur MS

• KMID: 2537471
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.22.191

Abstract

The present case report describes an unusual variant of a missing medial tarsal artery (MTA) being replaced by the anterior medial malleolar artery (AMMA). The dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) did not give off any branches to the medial foot. The DPA coursed downward in the foot along with the superficial fibular nerve on the foot dorsum at the lateral side of the first metatarsal bone before entering the sole. In the medial malleolus, the AMMA arose from the anterior tibial artery and then ramified several branches, one of which descended to the medial talus. Thus, the possibility of a missing MTA being replaced by the AMMA should be considered by surgeons and radiologists when various surgeries are performed in the medial tarsal area.

Keyword

Medial tarsal artery; Anterior medial malleolar artery; Dorsalis pedis artery

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A MTA replaced by the AMMA. (A) The DPA coursed downward in the foot just lateral to the EHL tendon. (B) The DPA coursed downward along with the SFN on the dorsum of the foot on the lateral side of the first metatarsal bone. The MTA was found to be missing. The DPA did not give off any branches to the medial foot. The EDL tendon was reflected laterally, and the EHL and TA tendons were reflected medially. The AMMA arose from the ATA and ramified several branches, one (arrowheads) of which descended to the medial talus. EDB, extensor digitorum brevis. (C) One branch (arrowheads) of the AMMA that supplied the medial talus was indicated by an instrument. MTA, missing medial tarsal artery; AMMA, anterior medial malleolar artery; DPA, dorsalis pedis artery; EHL, extensor hallucis longus; SFN, superficial fibular nerve; EDL, extensor digitorum longus; TA, tibialis anterior; ATA, anterior tibial artery.

Reference

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