THE POPLITEAL ARTERY 633 



crossed from the lateral to the medial side by the tibial nerve and the popliteal vein, the vein 

 being between the nerve and the artery and closely adherent to the latter. On its lateral side, 

 above, are the Biceps femoris, the tibial nerve, the popliteal vein, and the lateral condyle of the 

 femur; below, the Plantaris and the lateral head of the Gastrocnemius. On its medial side, above, 

 are the Semimembranosus and the medial condyle of the femur; below, the tibial nerve, the 

 popliteal vein, and the medial head of the Gastrocnemius. The relations of the popliteal lymph 

 glands to the artery are described above. 



Peculiarities in Point of Division. Occasionally the popliteal artery divides into its terminal 

 branches opposite the knee-joint. The anterior tibial under these circumstances usually passes 

 in front of the Popliteus. 



Unusual Branches. The artery sometimes divides into the anterior tibial and peroneal, the 

 posterior tibial being wanting, or very small. Occasionally it divides into three branches, the 

 anterior and posterior tibial, and peroneal. 



Branches. The branches of the popliteal artery are: 



f Superior Lateral Superior Genicular. 



Muscular j ^\. Middle Genicular. 



Cutaneous. Medial Inferior Genicular. 



Medial Superior Genicular Lateral Inferior Genicular. 



The superior muscular branches, two or three in number, arise from the upper 

 part of the artery, and are distributed to the lower parts of the Adductor magnus 

 and hamstring muscles, anastomosing with the terminal part of the profunda 

 femoris. 



The sural arteries (aa. surales; inferior muscular arteries) are two large branches, 

 which are distributed to the Gastrocnemius, Soleus, and Plantaris. They arise 

 from the popliteal artery opposite the knee-joint. 



The cutaneous branches arise either from the popliteal artery or from some of 

 its branches; they descend between the two heads of the Gastrocnemius, and, 

 piercing the deep fascia, are distributed to the skin of the back of the leg. One 

 branch usually accompanies the small saphenous vein. 



The superior genicular arteries (aa. genu superior es; superior articular arteries} 

 (Figs. 550, 551), two in number, arise one on either side of the popliteal, and wind 

 around the femur immediately above its condyles to the front of the knee-joint. The 

 medial superior genicular runs in front of the Semimembranosus and Semitendinosus, 

 above the medial head of the Gastrocnemius, and passes beneath the tendon of the 

 Adductor magnus. It divides into two branches, one of which supplies the Vastus 

 medialis, anastomosing with the highest genicular and medial inferior genicular 

 arteries; the other ramifies close to the surface of the femur, supplying it and the 

 knee-joint, and anastomosing with the lateral superior genicular artery. The medial 

 superior genicular artery is frequently of small size, a condition, which is associated 

 with an increase in the size of the highest genicular. The lateral superior genicular 

 passes above the lateral condyle of the femur, beneath the tendon of the Biceps 

 femoris, and divides into a superficial and a deep branch; the superficial branch 

 supplies the Vastus lateralis, and anastomoses with the descending branch of the 

 lateral femoral circumflex and the lateral inferior genicular arteries; the deep 

 branch supplies the lower part of the femur and knee-joint, and forms an anasto- 

 motic arch across the front of the bone with the highest genicular and the medial 

 inferior genicular arteries. 



The middle genicular artery (a. genu media; azygos articular artery] is a small 

 branch, arising opposite the back of the knee-joint. It pierces the oblique popliteal 

 ligament, and supplies the ligaments and synovial membrane in the interior of 

 the articulation. 



The inferior genicular arteries (aa. genu inferiores; inferior articular arteries) (Figs. 

 550, 551), two in number, arise from the popliteal beneath the Gastrocnemius. The 

 medial inferior genicular first descends along the upper margin of the Popliteus, to 

 which it gives branches; it then passes beloAv the medial condyle of the tibia, beneath 



