Human Anatomy: Part 2 - K. A. Dyubenko, A. K. Kolomiyytsev, Yu. B. Chaykovsky 2008

Specialized Section
Cardiovascular system, systema cardiovasculare - Specialized Section
Blood vessels of the systemic circulation - Arteries of the lower extremity - Popliteal artery

The popliteal artery, a. poplitea (Figs. 53, 54 A), is the direct continuation of the femoral artery, which emerges into the popliteal fossa after passing through the adductor canal. Here, the popliteal artery lies directly on the fascia poplitea, the capsule of the knee joint, and the posterior surface of the m. popliteus. The division of the popliteal artery into its terminal branches, a. tibialis anterior et tibialis posterior***, most commonly occurs 2-3 cm distal to the upper margin of the soleus Muscle, beneath its tendinous arch.

The popliteal artery is accompanied by the vein of the same name, located posteriorly and more superficially, and by the tibial nerve, n. tibialis, which occupies the most lateral position****. The PROJECTION OF THE popliteal artery onto the Skin corresponds to the popliteal surface of the knee joint; it supplies the m. vastus lateralis and m. biceps femoris, and contributes to The formation of the articular network of the knee, rete articulare genus.

* If the a. circumflexa femoris medialis originates high and directly from the a. femoralis, it "runs a high risk of encountering the surgeon's knife during femoral hernia repair" (M. A. Tikhomirov, 1900).

** Perforating Arteries originate in numbers of two (in 20%), three (in 64%), and four (in 16%) (V. V. Kovanov, T. I. Anikina, 1978).

*** High division of the a. poplitea is of practical interest, as it results in two popliteal arteries running through the popliteal fossa (V. V. Kupriyanov, N. V. Voskresensky, 1970).

**** According to the anatomical acronym "VAN" – (vein, artery, nerve) [note: adapted for order in source text].

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Fig. 51. External iliac artery, a. iliaca externa, and femoral artery, a. femoralis; anterior view

Fig. 52. Femoral artery, a. femoralis, and deep artery of the thigh, a. profunda femoris

2. Superior medial genicular artery, a. superior medialis genus, branches off at the level of the middle of the medial condyle, reaches the Medial surface of the knee joint, supplies the m. vastus medialis, the capsule, and the ligaments of the knee joint, and contributes to the Formation of the articular network of the knee, rete articulare genus.

3. Inferior lateral genicular artery, a. inferior lateralis genus, branches off the popliteal artery at the level of the lateral tibial condyle, reaches the anterior surface of the knee joint, supplies the m. biceps femoris and the lateral HEAD of the m. gastrocnemius, and contributes to the formation of the articular network of the knee, rete articulare genus.

4. Inferior medial genicular artery, a. inferior medialis genus, branches off the popliteal artery at the same level as the preceding one, curves around the medial condyle of the Tibia, reaches the anterior surface of the joint, supplies the medial head of the m. gastrocnemius, and contributes to the formation of the articular network of the knee joint, rete articulare genus.

5. Middle genicular artery, a. genus media, originates from the anterior surface of the popliteal artery, penetrates the knee joint through its posterior wall, and supplies the capsule, cruciate ligaments, and menisci of the joint.

Thus, the first four Branches of the popliteal artery curve around the knee joint, participating in the formation of the articular network of the knee, rete articulare genu, while the fifth branch supplies Blood to the cruciate ligaments. In addition to these branches, the rete articulare genu is also formed with THE CONTRIBUTION OF the descending genicular artery (a branch of the a. femoralis) and the anterior and posterior recurrent tibial arteries (Fig. 54 A, B).