Popliteal Artery

Course

• Throughout course, it is the deepest neurovascular structure in the Popliteal Fossa
• Extends from Adductor Hiatus in Adductor Magnus (a hand’s breadth above the knee) to the fibrous arch of Soleus (a hand’s breadth below the knee)
• Enters Popliteal Fossa on medial side of Femur
  • Here, it lies deep and medial to Sciatic Nerve and its vertical continuation, the Tibial Nerve
• Convexes laterally as it passes downwards
• Comes to lie lateral to the Tibial Nerve
• Below fibrous arch of Soleus, (as the Posterior Tibial Artery) it returns to the medial side of the Tibial Nerve
• Below fibrous arch of Soleus, it immediately divides into Anterior tibial artery and Posterior tibial artery
• Artery lies successively on popliteal surface of Femur (separated from it by a little fat), on the Oblique Popliteal Ligament and on the fascia of Popliteus
• Palpation: Centre of the popliteal fossa (with the knee slightly flexed to relax the popliteal fascia)
• Branches
  • Muscular branches
    • Supply hamstring muscles and surrounding tissue
  • Genicular branches (form the genicular anastomosis around the knee)
    • Superior medial genicular artery
    • Superior lateral genicular artery
    • Middle genicular artery (pierces the posterior capsule to supply cruciate ligamens)
    • Inferior medial genicular artery
    • Inferior lateral genicular artery
  • Cutaneous branches: small branches to the skin over the popliteal foss
  • Terminal branches
    • Anterior tibial artery (passes through the interosseous membrane to anterior compartment
    • Tibioperoneal trunk (gives rise to Posterior tibial artery and Peroneal artery)

• Anterior tibial artery
  • Passes through the interosseous membrane to enter the anterior compartment
  • Descends along the anterior surface of the interosseous membrane
  • Supplies anterior compartment muscles and dorsum of the foot
  • Continues as the dorsalis pedis artery
  • Palpable pulse lateral to the extensor hallucis longus tendon
• Tibioperoneal trunk
  • Short segment branching from the popliteal artery
  • Divides into:
    • Posterior tibial artery
    • Peroneal (fibular) artery
• Posterior tibial artery
  • Continues in the posterior compartment deep to the soleus muscle
  • Accompanied by the tibial nerve
  • Passes posterior to the medial malleolus (tarsal tunnel)
  • Divides into medial and lateral plantar arteries
  • Supplies the posterior and lateral compartments and the plantar foot
  • Palpable pulse posterior to the medial malleolus
• Peroneal artery
  • Branch of the tibioperoneal trunk
  • Runs in the posterior compartment adjacent to the fibula
  • Sends perforating branches to the lateral compartment
  • Supplies the lateral compartment and contributes to ankle and heel anastomoses
• Arteries of the foot
  • Dorsalis pedis artery
    • Continuation of the anterior tibial artery
    • Gives off the arcuate artery and deep plantar artery
  • Plantar arteries
    • Medial and lateral plantar arteries arise from the posterior tibial artery
    • Lateral plantar artery contributes to the deep plantar arch