634 TEE ARTERIES. 



Popliteal Artery (Fig. 370, 18). 



Preparation. — The prefiaration wliicli has served for the study of tlie femoral artery being 

 nearly anaDgeil as in Fig. 870, rtmove from it the internal head of the gastrocnemius and 

 the popliteus muscles. 



The above name is given to the continuation of the femoral artery. This 

 vessel follows a descending direction behind the femoro-tibial articulation, 

 between the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, insinuates itself beneath the 

 popliteus, and bifurcates at the tibio-fibular arch after a course of from 6 to 8 

 inches, to form the posterior and anterior tibial artei'ies. 



The popliteal artery emits on its track : 1. The femoro -popliteal artery. 

 2. Articular branches. 3. Muscular branches chiefly destined to the gastroc- 

 nemius muscle, of which it is necessary to particularize one long division that 

 descends within the perforatus, in company with the great femoro-popliteal 

 nerve, to terminate superficially near the tendo-Achillis, where it anastomoses 

 with a recurrent branch of the posterior tibial artery (Fig. 370, 20). 



The femoro-popliteal artery is the only one of these collateral branches 

 deserving particular mention. Its origin indicates the limit of the femoral 

 and popliteal arteries, as it is detached at a right angle below the ring of the 

 adductor magnus, at the intermediate point of these two vessels. Placed between 

 the semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles on the one part, and the 

 biceps femoris on the other, this vessel is directed from before to behind, and 

 arrives at nearly the posterior border of the buttock, where it terminates in 

 subcutaneous branches, after emitting descending and ascending branches. 

 Among the first of these, which are principally destined to the gastrocnemius 

 muscle, sometimes exists the satellite branch of the sciatic nerve, and a thin 

 twig which descends with the external saphena nerve into the hollow of the 

 hock, where it meets, like the preceding, a branch of the posterior tibial artery. 

 Several of the ascending branches pass along the great femoro-popliteal nerve, 

 and all anastomose either with the deep femoral, or with the ischiatic arteries in 

 the substance or interstices of the ischio-tibial muscles (Fig. 370, 19). 



Terminal Branches of the Popliteal Artery. 



1. Posterior Tibial Artery (Fig. 370, 21). 



Preparation. — Follow the indications furnished by Fig. 370. 



At first situated deeply behind the tibia, beneath the popliteus, and the 

 oblique and deep flexors of the phalanges, this artery descends towards the hollow 

 of the hock, becoming gradually more and more superficial, and lying below the 

 tibial fascia, behind the tendon of the oblique flexor muscle, along with its 

 satellite vein. Arriving at the apex of the os calcis, it crosses the tibial fascia, 

 describes an S curve, and — along with the sciatic nerve — passes beneath the tareat 

 arch ; at the astragalus it separates into two terminal branches — the plantar 

 arteries. 



Collateral branches. — We cite : 1 . Numerous branches destined to the posterior 

 deep tibial muscles. 2. The nutrient artery of the tibia. 3. The tai-sal articular 

 arteries, a principal of which, along with a large venous arch, passes under the 

 perforans, near the inferior extremity of the tibia, to be distributed outside the 

 tarsus in descending ramuscirtes and ascending twigs, which extend as far as the 

 gastrocnemius and perforatus tendons. 4. A superficial ascending branch, arising 



