POPLITEAL ARTERY, AND ITS BRANCHES. 241 



tendon of the latter, concealed by the internal margin of the 

 vastus internus muscle. It sends off many small twigs to the 

 adjacent muscles, and terminates below by anastomosing with 

 the internal articular arteries. It is about the size of a crow- 

 quill. 



The Popliteal Artery (JLrteria Poplitasa) is the continua- 

 tion of the femoral, after the latter has passed through the ten- 

 dinous insertion of the adductor magnus ; and extends from this 

 point to the opening in the interosseous ligament of the leg, 

 just below the head of the tibia. It, first of all, passes from 

 the internal margin of the os femoris, to the notch between 

 the condyles; being there placed in the middle between the in- 

 ternal and the external hamstring muscles, and surrounded by 

 a mass of adipose matter which fills up the hollow of the ham. 

 It is in contact, anteriorly, with the knee joint, and a little be-- 

 low the latter with the popliteus muscle, descending there be- 

 tween the heads of the gaslrocnemius. It is covered, in the 

 greater part of its extent, posteriorly, by the popliteal vein, 

 and by the sciatic nerve, the latter being more superficial than 

 the vein. 



The popliteal artery sends off some small branches to the 

 hamstring muscles, and to the parts contained between the lat- 

 ter, which are too irregular and inconstant for description. 

 The following arteries, also, come from it: - 



1. The Superior Internal Articular Artery (Art. Articularis 

 Superior Interna) arises at or above the internal condyle, and 

 frequently consists in two trunks. It passes through the ten- 

 don of the adductor magnus, just above the condyle; it then 

 begins to distribute itself in branches, some of which are spent 

 upon the lower part of the vastus internus muscle, and others 

 upon the superior internal part of the knee joint. 



2. The Superior External Articulating Artery (Art. Articu- 

 laris Superior Externa) arises from the popliteal, somewhat 

 above the external condyle of the os femoris. It winds, hori- 

 zontally, above the external condyle, around the bone, between 

 it and the lower part of the biceps flexor cruris, and is then 

 distributed, also, in two orders of branches, some of which sup- 



VOL. II. 22 



