Popliteal artery
931001
220861551
2008-06-21T23:34:05Z
DOI bot
6652755
Citation maintenance. You can [[WP:DOI|use this bot]] yourself! Please [[User:DOI_bot/bugs|report any bugs]].
{{Infobox Artery |
Name = {{PAGENAME}} |
Latin = arteria poplitea |
GraySubject = 159 |
GrayPage = 632 |
Image = Popliteal_artery.png |
Caption = The arteries of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions. (Popliteal labeled at bottom center.)|
Image2 = Gray609.png |
Caption2 = Lymph glands of popliteal fossa. |
BranchFrom = [[femoral artery]] |
BranchTo = [[anterior tibial artery|anterior tibial]], [[posterior tibial artery]], [[sural arteries|sural]], [[superior genicular arteries|superior genicular]] ([[superior medial genicular artery|medial]], [[superior lateral genicular artery|lateral]]), [[middle genicular artery|middle genicular]], [[inferior genicular arteries|inferior genicular]] ([[Inferior medial genicular artery|medial]], [[Inferior lateral genicular artery|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 [[muscle]]s in the [[thigh]] and [[calf muscle|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===
{{main article|Tibial-fibular trunk}}
The [[fibular artery]] typically arises from the [[posterior tibial artery]].<ref name=day>{{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}}</ref> 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 [[palpation|palpated]] behind the [[knee]], but is generally more challenging to find than other arteries of the leg.
==Additional images==
<gallery>
Image:Gray551.png|The popliteal, posterior tibial, and peroneal arteries.
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome]]
* [[Popliteal fossa]]
==External links==
* {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|12|04|10}} - "Arteries of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks."
* {{eMedicineDictionary|Popliteal+artery}}
* [http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/surface/pulses/pulses.html Image at umich.edu - pulse]
{{Arteries of lower limbs}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Arteries]]
[[Category:Pelvic limb anatomy]]
[[fr:Artère poplitée]]
[[pl:Tętnica podkolanowa]]