[Variability of hand and foot arteries].

In the hand the superficial palmar arch is variable and the communication between the radial and the ulnar artery is open in only 42% of cases. In 58% there is no connection, and in most cases the common digital palmar arteries arise from the ulnar artery. In 10% the median artery participates in the vascularization of the hand: 5% joining the superficial palmar arch, and the other 5% when the superficial arch is open continue into the first or second palmar digital arteries. The deep palmar arch is constantly found closed (only 3% are open). The dorsum of the hand is usually supplied by the radial and the posterior interosseous arteries. They are joined by a branch of the ulnar artery in about 38%. In the foot there is great variation in the extent of the areas supplied by the posterior and the anterior tibial artery. A deep plantar branch connects the dorsalis pedis artery with the plantar arch. In more than 50% the main blood supply of the plantar side of the toes is derived from the anterior tibial artery. The dorsal side of the toes II to V is often supplied by branches of the plantar arch which pass through the intermetatarsal spaces.