Il6 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



It is divided into a superficial and a deep branch, which are 

 further subdivided into the following branches: 



f Superficial circumflex iliac. 



Superficial epigastric. 



Superficial I Superficial external pudic. D ( External circumflex, 



femoral : ] Deep external pudic. femoral ] Internal circurafl ex. 



Muscular. ' I Three perforating. 



. Anastomotica magna. 



The popliteal artery commences at the opening in 

 the adductor magnus, and, passing downward behind the 

 knee-joint, it divides at the lower border of the popliteus 

 muscle into the anterior and the posterior tibial. The 

 walls are exceedingly thick, thus protecting the artery, 

 which is subjected to strain from the pressure that is 

 applied from without, as in flexing the limb on the thigh. 

 It is the deepest structure in the popliteal space. The 

 branches which it gives off are as follows : 



Superior muscular. Superior external articular. 



Inferior muscular or sural. Superior internal articular. 



Cutaneous. Inferior internal articular. 



Azygos articular. Inferior external articular. 



The anterior tibial artery passes through the 

 interosseous membrane to the anterior tibial region, and 

 runs down the anterior part of the leg to the ankle-joint, 

 where it becomes the dorsalis pedis. The branches are 

 the recurrent, muscular, external malleolar, and internal 

 malleolar. 



The dorsalis pedis artery is on the tibial side of 

 the dorsum of the foot, passing from the ankle to the base 

 of the metatarsal bone of the great toe, where it gives off 

 a branch the dorsalis hallucis; it then passes to the sole 

 of the foot, between the heads of the interosseous muscle, 

 and completes the plantar arch by anastomosing with the 

 external plantar artery. Its branches are the tarsal, 



