354 POPLITEAL ARTERY. 



artery above, and with the articular branches of the popliteal below. 

 It is through the medium of these branches that the collateral circula- 

 tion is maintained in the limb after ligature of the femoral artery. 



The Muscular branches are given off by the femoral artery through- 

 out the whole of its course. They supply the muscles in immediate 

 proximity with the artery, particularly those of the anterior aspect of 

 the thigh. One of these branches, larger than the rest, arises from the 

 femoral immediately below the origin of the profunda, and passing 

 outwards between the rectus and sartorius divides into branches which 

 are distributed to all the muscles of the anterior aspect of the thigh. 

 This may be named the superior muscular artery. 



The Anastomotica magna arises from the femoral while in the ten- 

 dinous canal formed by the adductors and vastus internus. It runs 

 along the tendon of the adductor magnus to the inner condyle, and 

 inosculates with the superior internal articular artery : some of its 

 branches are distributed to the vastus internus muscle and to the 

 crureus, and terminate by anastomosing with the branches of the ex- 

 ternal circumflex and superior external articular artery. 



POPLITEAL ARTERY. 



The popliteal artery commences from the termination of the femoral 

 at the opening in the adductor magnus muscle, and passes obliquely 

 outwards through the middle of the popliteal space to the lower border 

 of the popliteus muscle, where it divides into the anterior and posterior 

 tibial artery. 



Relations. In its course downwards it rests first on the femur, 

 then on the posterior ligament of the knee-joint, then on the fascia, 

 covering the popliteus muscle. Superficially it is in relation with the 

 semi-membranosus muscle, next with a quantity of fat which separates 

 it from the deep fascia, and near its termination with the gastrocne- 

 mius, plantaris, and soleus ; superficial and external to it is the popli- 

 teal vein, and still more superficial and external, the popliteal nerve. 

 By its inner side it is in relation with the semi-membranosus, internal 

 condyle of the femur, and inner head of the gastrocnemius ; and by its 

 outer side with the biceps, external condyle of the femur, the outer 

 head of the gastrocnemius, the plantaris and the soleus. 



