Anatomical variations in dorsalis pedis artery and its branches with clinical corrrelations

50 feet were dissected to see the course and branching pattern of dorsalis pedis artery. The following variations of the artery were seen. The dorsalis pedis artery was deviated laterally in 4% of feet. It was continuation of perforating branch of peroneal artery in 4% of feet. Arcuate artery was absent in 40% of feet. In 8% feet the medial tarsal artery was absent. In 12% feet there were two medial tarsal arteries. There were two lateral tarsal arteries in 14% of feet and three lateral tarsal arteries in 8% of feet. Knowledge of these variations can help the radiologists in diagnosing peripheral vascular diseases by colour Doppler. Awareness about the arterial variations in the foot can help microvascular surgeons to do infrapopliteal interventions in critical limb ishaemia and also in reconstructive surgeries.