ARCO PLANTAR SUPERFICIAL EN EL HOMBRE: CARACTERISTICAS ANATOMICAS Y COMPARADAS

the human foot irrigation is different of the simian which presents frequently two plantar networks, superficial and deep. generally, in man there is not a very developed superficial arch. this fact lead us to think in a functional adaptation undergone by the foot through the times. in order to verify the presence and anatomical characteristics of the human superficial plantar arch, we studied 50 feet from 25 adult cadavers, of both sexes, all brazilians. the arch was present in only 7 cases (14.0%), ever unilateral and located in the distal part of the middle third of the foot. the diameter of this arch did not exceed 1.0 mm. the branches originated from this arterial formation were between 2 and 4, which bound to the plantar superficial structures following the common plantar digital nerves. due to the presented characteristics we believe that the superficial plantar arch would be beyond of an anatomical variation, a vestige of our evolution