ARTERIES 9, 



Relations. The part of artery in the popliteal space is 

 partly covered by the semimembranosus, and below it is 

 covered by the gastrocnemius and plantaris. It rests upon 

 the femur, posterior ligament of knee-joint and popliteus. 

 The vein lies to the outer side in the upper part, but crosses 

 to the inner side near the termination. Superficial and slightly 

 external to the artery is the internal popliteal nerve, in the 

 upper part, but below it crosses to inner side. A small 

 articular branch of the obturator nerve courses upon the artery. 



Branches : 



Muscular : Superior set (3 or 4) : to lower end of hamstrings ; 

 anas, perforating of profunda, superior articular. 



Inferior set or sural (2) : arise from the posterior part of 

 artery opposite knee-joint, supply both heads of gastroc- 

 nemius, plantaris and soleus. 



Superficial : accompanies external saphenous nerve to end 

 in integuments. 



Superior articular : Internal. Arises just above condyles of 

 femur, courses transversely inwards beneath semimembranosus 

 and tendon of adductor magnus to front of knee, ending in 

 vastus intern us and joint ; anas, anastomotic and superior 

 external articular. 



External. Winds beneath biceps, perforates intermuscular 

 septum ; anas, descending branch of external circumflex, ex- 

 ternal of anastomotic and superior internal articular, forming 

 an arch, inferior external articular; supplies joint by super- 

 ficial and deep branches. 



Inferior articular: Internal. Passes down on internal 

 tuberosity of tibia, beneath inner head of gastrocnemius and 

 internal lateral ligament ; anas, opposite artery, superior in- 

 ternal articular, anterior tibial recurrent. 



External. Courses outwards under outer head of gastroc- 

 nemius, plantaris and external lateral ligament ; anas, in front 

 with other articular branches, anterior tibial recurrent. 



Azygos articular : arises opposite flexure of joint, pierces 

 posterior ligament, supplying crucial ligaments and other 

 structures in the joint. 



THE ANTERIOR TIBIAL ARTERY. 



Extent. From division of popliteal artery at lower border 

 of popliteus, to bend of ankle, where it becomes dorsalis 

 pedis. 



Course. At first directed outwards and forwards, through 

 two heads of origin of tibialis posticus, to reach anterior sur- 

 face of interosseous membrane; thence a line drawn from 



