Popliteal artery
Encyclopedia
In human anatomy
, the popliteal artery is defined as the extension of the "superficial" femoral artery
after passing through the adductor canal
and adductor hiatus
above the knee
. The termination of the popliteal artery is its bifurcation into the anterior tibial artery
and posterior tibial artery
.
The popliteal artery, through numerous smaller branches, supplies blood to the knee joint and muscle
s in the thigh
and calf. It is accompanied, along its length, by the popliteal vein
.
typically arises from the posterior tibial artery
. Therefore, the posterior tibial artery proximal to the fibular artery origin is sometimes called the tibial-peroneal trunk or tibial-fibular trunk and it could be said that the popliteal artery bifurates into the tibial-fibular trunk and anterior tibial artery.
can be palpated
behind the knee
when it is semi-flexed, but is generally more challenging to find than other arteries of the leg; thus, a readily-detectable and easy-to-find popliteal pulse may actually suggest some pathology.
Human anatomy
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...
, the popliteal artery is defined as the extension of the "superficial" femoral artery
Femoral artery
The femoral artery is a general term comprising a few large arteries in the thigh. They begin at the inguinal ligament and end just above the knee at adductor canal or Hunter's canal traversing the extent of the femur bone....
after passing through the adductor canal
Adductor canal
The adductor canal is an aponeurotic tunnel in the middle third of the thigh, extending from the apex of the femoral triangle to the opening in the Adductor magnus, the Adductor hiatus.-Boundary:...
and adductor hiatus
Adductor hiatus
The adductor hiatus is a gap between the adductor magnus muscle and the femur that allows the passage of the femoral vessels from the anterior thigh to the posterior thigh and then the popliteal fossa. It is the termination of the adductor canal and lies about 2 inches superior to the...
above the knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
. The termination of the popliteal artery is its bifurcation into the anterior tibial artery
Anterior tibial artery
The anterior tibial artery of the lower limb carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery.It is accompanied by a deep vein, the anterior tibial vein, along its course....
and posterior tibial artery
Posterior tibial artery
The posterior tibial artery of the lower limb carries blood to the posterior compartment of the leg and plantar surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery...
.
The popliteal artery, through numerous smaller branches, supplies blood to the knee joint and muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
s in the thigh
Thigh
In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur...
and calf. It is accompanied, along its length, by the popliteal vein
Popliteal vein
The popliteal vein course runs alongside the popliteal artery but carries the blood from the knee joint and muscles in the thigh and calf back to the heart.Its origin is defined by the junction of the posterior tibial vein and anterior tibial vein....
.
Branches
The branches of the popliteal artery are:- anterior tibial arteryAnterior tibial arteryThe anterior tibial artery of the lower limb carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery.It is accompanied by a deep vein, the anterior tibial vein, along its course....
- posterior tibial arteryPosterior tibial arteryThe posterior tibial artery of the lower limb carries blood to the posterior compartment of the leg and plantar surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery...
- sural artery
- medial superior genicular artery
- lateral superior genicular artery
- middle genicular arteryMiddle genicular arteryThe middle genicular artery is a small branch, arising opposite the back of the knee-joint.-Course and target:It pierces the oblique popliteal ligament, and supplies the ligaments and synovial membrane in the interior of the articulation....
- lateral inferior genicular artery
- medial inferior genicular artery
Tibial-fibular trunk
The fibular arteryFibular artery
In anatomy, the fibular artery supplies blood to the lateral compartment of the leg and is typically a branch of posterior tibial artery.-Structure:...
typically arises from the posterior tibial artery
Posterior tibial artery
The posterior tibial artery of the lower limb carries blood to the posterior compartment of the leg and plantar surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery...
. Therefore, the posterior tibial artery proximal to the fibular artery origin is sometimes called the tibial-peroneal trunk or tibial-fibular trunk and it could be said that the popliteal artery bifurates into the tibial-fibular trunk and anterior tibial artery.
Pulse
Its pulsePulse
In medicine, one's pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck , at the wrist , behind the knee , on the inside of the elbow , and near the...
can be palpated
Palpation
Palpation is used as part of a physical examination in which an object is felt to determine its size, shape, firmness, or location...
behind the knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
when it is semi-flexed, but is generally more challenging to find than other arteries of the leg; thus, a readily-detectable and easy-to-find popliteal pulse may actually suggest some pathology.