404 



THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



genicular artery, and a branch which results from the union of 

 a twig from the arteria genu suprema, and another from the 

 superior medial genicular artery. The most distal arch lies on 

 the tibia, immediately above its tuberosity, and results from 

 the anastomosis of the anterior recurrent tibial and inferior 

 medial genicular arteries. The proximal and middle of these 

 transverse arches are connected, on each side of the patella, 

 by ascending and descending branches, which anastomose 

 with one another, and thus enclose the patella in an 

 irregularly quadrilateral arterial framework. From all sides of 

 this arterial enclosure, twigs are given off which enter small 



Deep branch of 

 arteria genu suprema 



M. vastus medialis 



Superior medial 

 artery of the knee 



Ligamentum patellae 

 Medial meniscus 



Ligamentum patell 



Inferior medial 



artery of the knee 



Tibial collateral 



ligament 



Sartorius 



M. vastus lateralis 



M. rectus femoris 

 M. biceps femoris 



Superior lateral 

 artery of the knee 



Patella 



Fibular collateral 

 ligament 



Inferior lateral 

 artery of the knee 



Fibular collateral 

 ligament 



Head of fibula 



Anterior recurrent 

 tibial artery 



Anterior tibial artery 



FlG. 177. Anastomosis on the front of the Left Knee Joint. 



foramina on the anterior surface of the patella to supply the 

 osseous substance. Six arteries, therefore, take part in the 

 formation of this system of anastomoses on the front and 

 lateral aspects of the joint, viz., the musculo-articular branch 

 of the arteria genu suprema, the two superior and the two 

 inferior genicular branches of the popliteal, and the anterior 

 recurrent branch of the anterior tibial. In addition to the 

 twigs which proceed from these to form the arterial arches, 

 numerous branches are given which spread over the bones in 

 the form of a close meshwork. During the dissection of the 

 articulation these vessels will become apparent. 



