182 ANATOMY IN A NUTSHELL. 



these structures superficially in the median lint', and the external popliteal or 

 peroneal nerve lies close to the tendon of the Biceps. 



The branches of the popliteal artery are, (1) cutaneous branches, three in 

 number which descend in the median line and on each side run across the Gast- 

 rocnemius to the calf of the leg. These branches may arise from other branches. 

 (•_») Superior muscular branches, two or three in number pass to the Vastus 

 externus ami flexors of the thigh. (3) Inferior muscular or sural branches 

 generally two branches pass to the Gastrocnemius and Plantaris muscles. (4) 

 Superior internal articular branch which passes under the tendon of the Ad- 

 ductor magnus muscle divides, one of the branches joining the superior external 

 articular artery and the other branch joining the anastomotic^ magna and the 

 inferior internal articular artery. (5) Superior external articular artery which 

 passes above the outer condyle under the tendon of the Biceps divides into a 

 dt ep branch which joins the inferior internal articular artery, and anastomotic^ 

 magna artery and a superficial branch which joins the inferior external artic- 

 ular and the descending branch of the external circumflex artery. (6) The 

 azygos articular pierces the posterior ligament of the knee-joint to supply 

 thai joint. ( 7) Inferior internal articular passes below the inner tuber- 

 osity of the tibia under the internal lateral ligament to join the inferior external 

 and superior internal articular arteries. (8) Inferior external articular artery 

 passes above the fibula under the tendon of the Biceps and external lateral 

 ligament to join the anterior tibial recurrent ami the inferior internal articular 

 and the superior external articular arteries. 



The circumpatellar anastomosis (Plates LXXII-LXXYI) is formed by 

 the (1) superior external articular, (2) superior internal articular, (3) inferior 

 external articular. (4) inferior internal articular, (5) fourth perforating or 

 terminal branch of the profunda, (6) anastomotica magna, (7) descending 

 branch of the external circumflex, and (8) the anterior tibial recurrent. This 

 anastomosis has superficial and deep portions. If we substitute in this anas- 

 tomosis the fourth perforating or terminal branch of the profunda for the pos- 

 terior tibial recurrent and azygos articular, we will have the blood supply to 

 the knee-joint. 



LESSON XLIX. 



The anterior tibial artery (Plates LXXII-LXXVI) runs forward between 

 the two heads of the Tibialis posticus above the interosseous membrane. It 

 now descends on the anterior surface of this membrane and crosses the anterior 

 surface of the tibia distally and the anterior ligament of the ankle-joint. Below 

 this joint it i- called dorsalis pedis artery. The branches of the anterior tibial 

 artery are, I muscular, 1 which go to the muscles of the leg. (2) Posterior 

 tibial recurrent branch (which i> not always present | passes under the Popliteus 

 muscle. (3) Superior fibular branch which passes around the neck of the fibula 

 and through the Soleus muscle to the Peroneus longus. (4) Anterior tibial 

 recurrent which passesupward through the Tibialis anticus to go to the circum- 

 patellar anastomosis. (5) Internal malleolar branch passes under the tendons 



