Popliteal artery

Popliteal artery , a. Poplitea, is a direct extension of the femoral artery. It starts at the level of the lower opening of the leading canal, lies under the semimembranous muscle and goes along the bottom of the popliteal fossa, resting first to the popliteal surface of the femur and then to the articular capsule of the knee joint, and in its lower part to the popliteal muscle. The popliteal artery has a direction first downwards and somewhat laterally, and from the middle of the popliteal fossa it is almost perpendicular.

The lower section of the artery passes into the gap between the gastrocnemius muscles covering it, and at the level of the lower edge of the popliteal muscle, the artery follows between it and the calf muscle; Under the edge of the soleus muscle is divided into the posterior tibial artery, a. Tibialis posterior, and anterior tibial artery, as well. Tibialis anterior.

The popliteal artery is followed by the same-named vein and tibial nerve, n. Tibialis. Co of the popliteal fossa, posteriorly, the vein lies superficially, and the nerve is even more superficial in relation to the artery and vein.

In its turn, the popliteal artery gives a series of branches that supply blood to the muscles and the knee joint. All these branches widely anastomose with each other, as well as with rr. Perforantes (branches of a. Profunda femoris) and a. Descendens genicularis (a branch of femoralis), forming a dense vascular knee joint network.

A number of branches leave the popliteal artery.

1. Lateral upper knee artery, a. Superior lateralis genus, goes to the outside under the biceps femoris muscle, and, going over the lateral condyle, breaks down into smaller branches that take part in the formation of the knee joint network.

2. Medial upper knee artery, a. Superior medialis genus, is directed anteriorly under the tendons of the semimembranous and large adductor muscle, over the medial condyle and, skirting the femur from the inside, takes part in the formation of the knee joint network.

3. The middle knee artery, a. Media genus, is directed from the popliteal artery anteriorly, above the oblique popliteal ligament, it perforates the capsule of the knee joint and gives a series of branches to the synovial membrane of the joint and the cruciform ligament.

4. Lateral lower knee artery, a. Inferior lateralis genus, starts from the distal part of the popliteal artery, passes under the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and the biceps femoris, rounds the knee above the fibular head, enters the anterior knee, participates in the formation of the knee joint network.

5. Medial lower knee artery, a. Inferior medialis genus, passes under the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle and envelops the medial periphery of the knee joint, lying under the tibial collateral ligament. Branches of the artery are part of the network of the knee joint.

6. Calf artery, aa. Surales, only two (sometimes more), depart from the posterior surface of the popliteal artery and, disintegrating into a series of smaller branches, supply the proximal sections of the triceps and plantar muscles of the lower leg and the skin of the lower leg.