Variations in the Anatomy of the Dorsalis Pedis Artery and its Branching Patterns: A High-Resolution Color Doppler Ultrasonography Study

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 9, September 2026 | pp. 461–472

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/000206

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Variations in the Anatomy of the Dorsalis Pedis Artery and its Branching Patterns: A High-Resolution Color Doppler Ultrasonography Study

Names of Authors: Min-Seok Choi¹, Sun-Young Park²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; ²Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea

Abstract:
The dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) is the primary source of arterial blood supply to the dorsum of the foot, serving as a key landmark for peripheral pulse evaluations, microvascular micro-surgical flaps, and distal arterial cannulations. This study utilized high-resolution color Doppler ultrasonography to comprehensively map the course, diameter variations, and terminal branching patterns of the DPA relative to bony soft-tissue axes. One hundred limbs from fifty healthy adult volunteers (25 males, 25 females; mean age 24.5 ± 3.2 years) were scanned using a 12-MHz linear array transducer. The classic linear continuation of the anterior tibial artery across the midpoint of the bimalleolar line was observed in 81.0% of limbs (n = 81). Variational configurations were documented in 19.0% of the cases. The most frequent variant involved a lateral deviation of the main DPA trunk toward the second intermetatarsal space (11.0%). Complete absence or severe hypoplasia of the DPA, where the dorsum of the foot was supplied by the perforating branch of the peroneal artery, was identified in 5.0% of limbs. The mean diameter of the DPA trunk at the ankle joint level was 2.14 ± 0.28 mm in males and 1.82 ± 0.21 mm in females (p < 0.05). These ultrasonic measurements offer specific anatomical margins, providing critical guidance for clinicians executing foot reconstructive flap adjustments or catheterization entries.

Keywords: Dorsalis Pedis Artery, Color Doppler Ultrasonography, Anatomical Variations, Foot Anatomy, Peripheral Vascular Examination

Manuscript Timeline: Received: August 23, 2026; Revised: September 18, 2026; Accepted: September 27, 2026; Published: September 30, 2026

Citation: Choi M.S., & Park S.Y. (2026). Variations in the Anatomy of the Dorsalis Pedis Artery and its Branching Patterns: A High-Resolution Color Doppler Ultrasonography Study. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 15(9), 461–472. DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/000206

Subscribe to read the full article: https://www.internationalscholarsjournals.org/subscribe-to-read