Venous drainage of the foot

Last revised by Daniel MacManus on 22 Mar 2021

Venous drainage of the foot can be divided into two main components. Plantar veins, draining the sole (plantar surface) of the foot, and the dorsal veins which drain the dorsal surface of the foot. The veins of the foot are susceptible to several pathologies, including corona phelbectatica, varicose veins, and venous ulcers 1.

Plantar venous drainage

  • deep plantar venous arch
    • formed from the four plantar metatarsal veins, which originate from a confluence of the plantar and dorsal digital veins
    • once formed it continues proximally as the medial and lateral plantar veins which give rise to the posterior tibial and the peroneal veins

Dorsal venous drainage

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