Popliteal artery

Infobox Artery
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = arteria poplitea
GraySubject = 159
GrayPage = 632


Caption = The arteries of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions. (Popliteal labeled at bottom center.)


Caption2 = Lymph glands of popliteal fossa.
BranchFrom = femoral artery
BranchTo = anterior tibial, posterior tibial artery, sural, superior genicular (medial, lateral), middle genicular, inferior genicular (medial, lateral)
Vein = popliteal vein
Supplies =
MeshName = Popliteal+Artery
MeshNumber = A07.231.114.681
DorlandsPre = a_61
DorlandsSuf = 12155539
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 muscles in the thigh and calf. It is accompanied, along its length, by the popliteal vein.

Branches

The branches of the popliteal artery are:
*anterior tibial artery
*posterior tibial artery
*sural artery
*medial superior genicular artery
*lateral superior genicular artery
*middle genicular artery
*lateral inferior genicular artery
*medial inferior genicular artery

Tibial-fibular trunk

The fibular artery typically arises from the posterior tibial artery.cite journal | author = Day C, Orme R | title = Popliteal artery branching patterns -- an angiographic study | journal = Clin Radiol | volume = 61 | issue = 8 | pages = 696–9 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16843754 | doi = 10.1016/j.crad.2006.03.014] 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".

Embryology

Embryologically, the popliteal artery is derived from the fetal sciatic artery, which is distinct from the femoral artery.Fact|date=January 2008

Pulse

Its pulse can be palpated behind the knee, but is generally more challenging to find than other arteries of the leg.

=Additional

ee also

* Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome
* Popliteal fossa

External links

* - "Arteries of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks."
*
* [http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/surface/pulses/pulses.html Image at umich.edu - pulse]

References