POPLITEAL ARTERY. 317 



with the superior and inferior perforantes. This branch frequently 

 gives off the nutritious artery of the femur. 



The Inferior perforating artery is given off below the adductor 

 brevis, and pierces the tendon of the adductor magnus, supplying it 

 and the flexor muscles and inosculating with the middle perforating 

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

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

 culation is maintained in the limb after ligature of the femoral 

 artery. 



The Muscular branches are given off by the femoral artery 

 throughout the whole of its course. They supply the muscles in 

 immediate proximity with the artery, particularly those of the ante- 

 rior aspect of the thigh. One of these branches larger than the rest, 

 arises from the femoral immediately below the origin of the pro- 

 funda, 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. It may be named the superior 

 muscular artery. 



The Anastomotica magna arises from the femoral while in the 

 tendinous 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 

 external 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 ante- 

 rior 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 

 semimembranosus muscle, next with a quantity of fat which sepa- 

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

 trocnemius, plantaris, and soleus ; superficial and external to it is 

 the popliteal vein, and still more superficial and external, the popli- 

 teal nerve. By its inner side it is in relation with the semimem- 

 branosus, 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. 



