A casualty officer needs to sample arterial blood from the foot. The dorsalis pedis pulse is best palpated in which position relative to the tendons on the dorsum of the foot?

• A Medial to the tendon of extensor hallucis longus
• B Between the tendons of extensor digitorum longus to the second toe
• C Lateral to the tendon of extensor hallucis longus ✓
• D Immediately lateral to the tendon of tibialis anterior

Explanation

The dorsalis pedis artery is the continuation of the anterior tibial artery onto the dorsum of the foot. It crosses the ankle midway between the malleoli and then runs lateral to the tendon of extensor hallucis longus, where it is palpable against the tarsal bones before diving plantarwards as the first plantar metatarsal artery. Medial to that tendon lie the dorsalis pedis vein companions, not the artery, making option A the classic trap.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.