popliteal artery

dorsal view

The popliteal artery is the direct continuation of the superficial femoral artery, at the point where it exits the adductor canal at the adductor hiatus, and passes into the popliteal fossa as the vessel courses posteriorly behind the knee.

Summary

origin: continuation of the superficial femoral artery as it exits the adductor canal
main branch: anterior tibial artery
termination: continues as the tibioperoneal trunk in the lower aspect of the popliteal fossa
supply: knee, leg and foot

Gross anatomy

Origin

As a continuation of the femoral (superficial femoral) artery as it passes into the popliteal fossa through the adductor canal at the junction of the middle and lower thirds of the thigh.

Course

Descends as the deepest structure on the floor of the popliteal fossa. Courses just superficial to the popliteus muscle.

Termination

At the lower border of the popliteus, divides into its terminal branches - anterior tibial and tibioperoneal trunk.

Branches

superior medial and lateral genicular arteries - course around the femoral condyles as part of the genicular anastomosis
inferior medial and lateral genicular arteries - course around the tibial condyles as part of the genicular anastomosis
middle genicular artery - pierces oblique popliteal muscle
muscular branches - supply hamstrings, adductor magnus, and triceps surae
cutaneous branches - supply skin over knee joint

Relations

popliteal artery starts medial to tibial nerve and ends lateral to it; the popliteal vein always between the two
deep/anterior: popliteal surface of the femur (separated by fat), knee joint capsule, and popliteus
superficial/posterior: popliteal vein, tibial nerve (most superficial)
lateral: (above) biceps femoris and lateral condyle of the femur, (below) plantaris and lateral head of the gastrocnemius
medial:(above) semimembranosus and medial condyle of the femur, (below) medial head of the gastrocnemius

Variant anatomy

Variants in popliteal branching pattern :

popliteal artery arising off a persistent sciatic artery
~90% of the population displays the typical branching pattern of bifurcation into an anterior tibial artery and tibioperoneal trunk
~10% have variant branching pattern:
- hypoplastic infrapopliteal vessels ~4% (range 1.0-6.8%)
- trifurcation (no tibioperoneal trunk) ~2% (range 1.5-3.2%)
- high bifurcation (above popliteus)
- high origin of anterior tibial artery ~2.5% (range 0.5-4.5%)
- high origin of posterior tibial artery ~1%
- peroneal artery arising off the anterior tibial artery