POPLITEAL ARTERY. 327 



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

 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 gastrocnemius plantaris, and soleus ; 

 superficial and external to it is the popliteal 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. 



Plan of the Relations of the Popliteal Mery. 



Superficially. 



Semi-membranosus, 

 Popliteal nerve, 

 Popliteal vein, 

 Gastrocnemius, 

 Plantaris, 

 Soleus. 

 Inner Side. Outer Side. 



Semi-membranosus, 

 Internal condyle, 

 Gastroctiemius. 



Popliteal Artery. 



Biceps, 



External condyle, 



Gastrocnemius, 



Plantaris, 



Soleus. 



Deeply. 



Femur, 



Ligamentum posticum Winslowii, 



Popliteal fascia. 



Branches. The branches of the popliteal artery are the 



Superior external articular, 

 Superior internal articular, 

 Azygos articular, 

 Inferior external articular, 

 Inferior internal articular, 

 Sural. 



The Superior articular arteries, external and internal, wind around the 

 femur, immediately above the condyles, to the front of the knee joint, 

 anastomosing with each other, with the external circumflex, the anasto- 

 motica magna, the inferior articular, and the recurrent of the anterior 

 tibial. The external passes beneath the tendon, of the biceps, and the 

 internal through an arched opening beneath the tendon of the adductor 

 magnus. They supply the knee joint and the lower part of the femui. 



The Azygos articular artery pierces the posterior ligament of the joint, 

 the ligamentum. posticum Winslowii, and supplies the synovial membrane 

 in its interior. There are, frequently, several posterior articular arteries. 



The Inferior articular arteries wind around the head of the tibia imme- 

 diately below the joint, and anastomose with each other, the superior 

 articular arteries, and the recurrent of the anterior tibial. The external 

 passes beneath the two external lateral ligaments of the joint, and the in 



