Medical Gross Anatomy
Anatomy Tables - Arteries of the Lower Limb
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Medical Gross Anatomy |
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| Artery | Source | Branches | Supply to | Notes |
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| anterior lateral malleolar | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | lateral side of the ankle | anterior lateral malleolar a. anastomoses with the posterior lateral malleolar a. and the perforating br. of the fibular a. |
| anterior medial malleolar | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | medial side of the ankle | anterior medial malleolar a. anastomoses with the posterior medial malleolar a. |
| anterior tibial | popliteal a. | anterior tibial recurrent a., posterior tibial recurrent a., anterior malleolar a., medial malleolar a., lateral malleolar a., dorsalis pedis a. | anterior leg; dorsum of foot and deep foot | anterior tibial a. becomes continuous with the dorsalis pedis a.; the name change occurs at the level of the ankle joint |
| anterior tibial recurrent | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | anterior side of the knee and adjacent muscles | anterior tibial recurrent a. anastomoses with the genicular aa. to participate in the formation of the genicular anastomosis |
| aorta, abdominal | the continuation of the descending thoracic aorta | inferior phrenic aa. (2), celiac trunk, middle suprarenal aa. (2), lumbar aa. (4 pairs), superior mesenteric a., renal aa. (2), testicular/ovarian aa. (2), inferior mesenteric a., median sacral a., common iliac aa. (2) | abdominal wall; gastrointestinal tract; body below the level of the respiratory diaphragm | abdominal aorta passes posterior to the diaphragm (aortic hiatus) at the level of the T12 vertebral body |
| arch, plantar arterial | lateral plantar a. | plantar metatarsal aa. (4) | deep foot; its plantar metatarsal brs. and their brs. supply the toes, including the dorsum of the distal phalangeal segment | plantar arterial arch anastomoses with the deep plantar br. of the dorsalis pedis a. |
| arcuate | dorsalis pedis a. | dorsal metatarsal aa. (3) | dorsum of the foot, excluding the pollex and the distal phalangeal segments of the digits | arcuate a. anastomoses with the lateral tarsal a. |
| circumflex femoral, lateral | deep femoral a. | ascending br., transverse br., descending br. | lateral thigh and hip | lateral circumflex femoral a. arises from the femoral a. in ~14% of cases |
| circumflex femoral, medial | deep femoral a. | ascending br., descending br. | medial thigh and hip | medial circumflex femoral a. arises from the femoral a. in ~20% of cases |
| circumflex fibular | anterior tibial | unnamed muscular branches | proximal portion of lateral leg | arises from the tibial a. before the tibial a. pierces the interosseous membrane |
| circumflex iliac, superficial | femoral a. | unnamed muscular branches | superficial fascia of lower abdomen and thigh | superficial circumflex iliac a. crosses the upper thigh parallel to the inguinal ligament |
| deep external pudendal | femoral a. | unnamed muscular branches | origins of pectineus m., adductor longus m.; scrotum/labium majus | deep external pudendal a. may arise from the medial circumflex femoral a. |
| deep femoral | femoral a. | medial circumflex femoral a., lateral circumflex femoral a., perforating aa. (3 or 4) | hip joint, proximal thigh, posterior thigh | deep femoral a. is the primary blood supply to muscles of the posterior compartment of the thigh |
| deep plantar | dorsalis pedis | plantar metatarsal aa. (4) | deep foot; its plantar metatarsal brs. and their brs. supply the toes, including the dorsum of the distal phalangeal segment | anastomoses with lateral plantar a. to form the plantar arterial arch; the branches mentioned at left arise from the plantar arterial arch |
| descending genicular | femoral a. | saphenous br., articular brs. | skin and superficial structures of the medial aspect of the knee and upper leg | descending genicular a. anastomoses with the genicular brs. of the popliteal a. |
| digital, proper plantar | plantar metatarsal a., from the plantar arterial arch | no named branches | plantar aspect of each digit | proper plantar digital aa. supply the dorsum of the distal phalangeal segment and nail bed |
| dorsal digital, of foot | dorsal metatarsal a. | no named branches | dorsal aspect of 1/2 digit, excluding the distal phalangeal segment | dorsal digital aa. do not supply the nail bed |
| dorsal metatarsal | dorsalis pedis (1st), arcuate (2nd-4th) | dorsal digital aa. (2) | dorsum of digits, excluding the distal phalangeal segment | each dorsal metatarsal a. gives off a perforating br. that anastomoses with the plantar arterial arch |
| dorsalis pedis | anterior tibial a. | lateral tarsal a., medial tarsal a., arcuate a., 1st dorsal metatarsal a., deep plantar a. | dorsal aspect of the foot; | dorsalis pedis a. anastomoses with the plantar arterial arch; the anterior tibial artery continues as the dorsalis pedis - the name change occurs at the level of the ankle |
| external iliac | common iliac a. | inferior epigastric a., deep circumflex iliac a., femoral a. | lower limb | external iliac a. is continuous with the femoral a., the name change occurs at the inguinal ligament; the common iliac artery bifurcates anterior to the sacroiliac articulation |
| external pudendal, deep | femoral a. | unnamed muscular branches | origins of pectineus m., adductor longus m.; scrotum/labium majus | deep external pudendal a. may arise from the medial circumflex femoral a. |
| external pudendal, superficial | femoral a. | no named branches | skin and superficial fascia of the upper medial thigh, skin of the pubic region | superficial external pudendal a. is one of three superficial branches of the femoral a. near the inguinal ligament (see also: superficial circumflex iliac a., superficial epigastric a.) |
| femoral | external iliac a. | superficial epigastric a., superficial circumflex iliac a., superficial external pudendal a., deep external pudendal a., deep femoral a., descending genicular a., popliteal a. | thigh, leg and foot | femoral a. is continuous with the popliteal a., the name change occurs at the adductor hiatus |
| femoral, deep | femoral a. | medial circumflex femoral a., lateral circumflex femoral a., perforating aa. (3 or 4) | hip joint, proximal thigh, posterior thigh | deep femoral a. is the primary blood supply to muscles of the posterior compartment of the thigh |
| femoral, lateral circumflex | deep femoral a. | ascending br., transverse br., descending br. | lateral thigh and hip | lateral circumflex femoral a. arises from the femoral a. in ~14% of cases |
| femoral, medial circumflex | deep femoral a. | ascending br., descending br. | medial thigh and hip | medial circumflex femoral a. arises from the femoral a. in ~20% of cases |
| fibular | posterior tibial a. | nutrient br., lateral malleolar a., communicating br., perforating br. | muscles and fascia of the lateral leg ankle | fibular a. anastomoses at the ankle with the anterior and posterior tibial aa.; also known as: peroneal a. |
| genicular, descending | femoral a. | saphenous br., articular brs. | skin and superficial structures of the medial aspect of the knee and upper leg | descending genicular a. anastomoses with the genicular brs. of the popliteal a. |
| genicular, inferior lateral | popliteal a. | no named branches | lateral aspect of the knee | inferior lateral genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| genicular, inferior medial | popliteal a. | no named branches | medial aspect of the knee | inferior medial genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| genicular, middle | popliteal a. | no named branches | cruciate ligaments and deep structures of the knee | middle genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| genicular, superior lateral | popliteal a. | no named branches | lateral aspect of knee | superior lateral genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| genicular, superior medial | popliteal a. | no named branches | medial aspect of knee | superior medial genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| gluteal, inferior | internal iliac a., anterior division | unnamed muscular branches | gluteus maximus m., hip joint | inferior gluteal a. participates in the formation of the cruciate anastomoses of the hip |
| gluteal, superior | internal iliac, posterior division | superficial br., deep br. | gluteus maximus m., gluteus medius m., gluteus minimus m., hip joint | superior gluteal a. participates in the formation of the cruciate anastomoses of the hip |
| iliac, common | abdominal aorta | external iliac a., internal iliac a. | pelvis, lower limb | abdominal aorta bifurcates at the level of the L4 vertebral body to form the right and left common iliac aa.; the common iliac artery bifurcates anterior to the sacroiliac articulation into its terminal brs. (external iliac a. and internal iliac a.) |
| iliac, external | common iliac a. | inferior epigastric a., deep circumflex iliac a., femoral a. | lower limb | external iliac a. is continuous with the femoral a., the name change occurs at the inguinal ligament; the common iliac artery bifurcates anterior to the sacroiliac articulation |
| iliolumbar | internal iliac a., posterior division | iliac br., lumbar br. | iliacus m., psoas major m., quadratus lumborum m. | lumbar br. of the iliolumbar a. sends a small spinal br. into the vertebral canal |
| inferior epigastric | external iliac a. | cremasteric a. | lower rectus abdominis m., pyramidalis m., lower abdominal wall | inferior epigastric m. anastomoses with the superior epigastric m. within the rectus abdominis m. |
| inferior gluteal | internal iliac a., anterior division | unnamed muscular branches | gluteus maximus m., hip joint | inferior gluteal a. participates in the formation of the cruciate anastomoses of the hip |
| inferior lateral genicular | popliteal a. | no named branches | lateral aspect of the knee | inferior lateral genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| inferior medial genicular | popliteal a. | no named branches | medial aspect of the knee | inferior medial genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| lateral plantar | posterior tibial a. | proper plantar digital a. to lateral side of 5th digit | deep foot; the plantar arterial arch and its brs. supply the toes, including the distal phalangeal segment dorsally | lateral plantar a. becomes continuous with the plantar arterial arch |
| lateral tarsal | dorsalis pedis a. | no named branches | tarsal bones and joints of the lateral foot | lateral tarsal a. anastomoses with the arcuate a. |
| lumbar | abdominal aorta | anterior br., posterior br., spinal br. | psoas major m., psoas minor m., quadratus lumborum m., spinal cord and vertebral column, deep back muscles | the 4 lumbar arteries on each side arise from the posterior surface of the aorta at the level of vertebrae L1-L4; they course posterior to the psoas major m. |
| malleolar, anterior lateral | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | lateral side of the ankle | anterior lateral malleolar a. anastomoses with the posterior lateral malleolar a. and the perforating br. of the fibular a. |
| malleolar, anterior medial | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | medial side of the ankle | anterior medial malleolar a. anastomoses with the posterior medial malleolar a. |
| malleolar, posterior lateral | fibular a. | calcaneal brs. | lateral side of the ankle | posterior lateral malleolar a. anastomoses with the anterior lateral malleolar a. |
| malleolar, posterior medial | posterior tibial a. | no named branches | medial side of the ankle | posterior medial malleolar a. anastomoses with the anterior medial malleolar a. |
| medial plantar | posterior tibial a. | digital brs. (3) | medial side of the sole of the foot | medial plantar a. anastomoses with the plantar metatarsal aa., but does not usually participate in formation of the plantar arterial arch |
| medial tarsal | dorsalis pedis a. | no named branches | tarsal bones and joints of the medial side of the foot | medial tarsal aa. are 2-3 in number; they anastomose with the medial malleolar aa. |
| metatarsal, dorsal | dorsalis pedis (1st), arcuate (2nd-4th) | dorsal digital aa. (2) | dorsum of digits, excluding the distal phalangeal segment | each dorsal metatarsal a. gives off a perforating br. that anastomoses with the plantar arterial arch |
| metatarsal, plantar | plantar arterial arch | perforating br., plantar digital aa. (2) | interosseous mm., deep portions of the foot; digits including the dorsum of the distal phalangeal segment | plantar metatarsal aa.anastomose with dorsal metatarsal aa. |
| middle genicular | popliteal a. | no named branches | cruciate ligaments and deep structures of the knee | middle genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| obturator | internal iliac a., anterior division | pubic br., acetabular br., anterior br., posterior br. | medial thigh and hip | anterior and posterior brs. pass on the anterior and posterior sides of the adductor brevis m.; aberrant obturator a. arises from the inferior epigastric a. in 30% of cases |
| plantar arterial arch | lateral plantar a. | plantar metatarsal aa. (4) | deep foot; its plantar metatarsal brs. and their brs. supply the toes, including the dorsum of the distal phalangeal segment | plantar arterial arch anastomoses with the deep plantar br. of the dorsalis pedis a. |
| plantar metatarsal | plantar arterial arch | perforating br., plantar digital aa. (2) | interosseous mm., deep portions of the foot; digits including the dorsum of the distal phalangeal segment | plantar metatarsal aa.anastomose with dorsal metatarsal aa. |
| plantar, deep | dorsalis pedis | plantar metatarsal aa. (4) | deep foot; its plantar metatarsal brs. and their brs. supply the toes, including the dorsum of the distal phalangeal segment | anastomoses with lateral plantar a. to form the plantar arterial arch; the branches mentioned at left arise from the plantar arterial arch |
| plantar, lateral | posterior tibial a. | proper plantar digital a. to lateral side of 5th digit | deep foot; the plantar arterial arch and its brs. supply the toes, including the distal phalangeal segment dorsally | lateral plantar a. becomes continuous with the plantar arterial arch |
| plantar, medial | posterior tibial a. | digital brs. (3) | medial side of the sole of the foot | medial plantar a. anastomoses with the plantar metatarsal aa., but does not usually participate in formation of the plantar arterial arch |
| popliteal | femoral a. | anterior tibial a., posterior tibial a., 5 genicular brs. | knee, leg and foot | the popliteal a. is the continuation of the femoral a., the name change occurs at the adductor hiatus |
| posterior lateral malleolar | fibular a. | calcaneal brs. | lateral side of the ankle | posterior lateral malleolar a. anastomoses with the anterior lateral malleolar a. |
| posterior medial malleolar | posterior tibial a. | no named branches | medial side of the ankle | posterior medial malleolar a. anastomoses with the anterior medial malleolar a. |
| posterior tibial | popliteal a. | fibular a. (peroneal), circumflex fibular a., nutrient a. of the tibia, communicating br., posterior medial malleolar brs., medial calcaneal brs., lateral plantar a., medial plantar a. | posterior and lateral leg, plantar aspect of the foot | posterior tibial a. is the direct continuation of the popliteal a. the name change occurs at the inferior border of the popliteus m. where the popliteal a. bifurcates; the tibial a. bifurcates on the medial side of the foot to give rise to the medial plantar a. and lateral plantar a. |
| posterior tibial recurrent | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | posterior knee, popliteus m. | anastomoses with the other genicular aa. to participate in the formation of the genicular anastomosis |
| proper plantar digital | plantar metatarsal a., from the plantar arterial arch | no named branches | plantar aspect of each digit | proper plantar digital aa. supply the dorsum of the distal phalangeal segment and nail bed |
| pudendal, deep external | femoral a. | unnamed muscular branches | origins of pectineus m., adductor longus m.; scrotum/labium majus | deep external pudendal a. may arise from the medial circumflex femoral a. |
| pudendal, superficial external | femoral a. | no named branches | skin and superficial fascia of the upper medial thigh, skin of the pubic region | superficial external pudendal a. is one of three superficial branches of the femoral a. near the inguinal ligament (see also: superficial circumflex iliac a., superficial epigastric a.) |
| recurrent, anterior tibial | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | anterior side of the knee and adjacent muscles | anterior tibial recurrent a. anastomoses with the genicular aa. to participate in the formation of the genicular anastomosis |
| recurrent, posterior tibial | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | posterior knee, popliteus m. | anastomoses with the other genicular aa. to participate in the formation of the genicular anastomosis |
| superficial epigastric | femoral a. | cutaneous brs. | superficial fascia and skin of the lower abdominal wall | superficial epigastric a. is one of three superficial arteries that arise from the femoral a. (see also: superficial circumflex iliac a. and superficial external pudendal a.) |
| superficial external pudendal | femoral a. | no named branches | skin and superficial fascia of the upper medial thigh, skin of the pubic region | superficial external pudendal a. is one of three superficial branches of the femoral a. near the inguinal ligament (see also: superficial circumflex iliac a., superficial epigastric a.) |
| superior lateral genicular | popliteal a. | no named branches | lateral aspect of knee | superior lateral genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| superior medial genicular | popliteal a. | no named branches | medial aspect of knee | superior medial genicular a. anastomoses with the other genicular brs. of the popliteal a., circumflex fibular a. and anterior tibial recurrent a. to form the genicular anastomosis |
| sural | popliteal a. | unnamed muscular aa. | gastrocnemius m., soleus m., plantaris m. | sural aa. are often confused with the inferior genicular aa. during dissection |
| tarsal, lateral | dorsalis pedis a. | no named branches | tarsal bones and joints of the lateral foot | lateral tarsal a. anastomoses with the arcuate a. |
| tarsal, medial | dorsalis pedis a. | no named branches | tarsal bones and joints of the medial side of the foot | medial tarsal aa. are 2-3 in number; they anastomose with the medial malleolar aa. |
| tibial recurrent, anterior | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | anterior side of the knee and adjacent muscles | anterior tibial recurrent a. anastomoses with the genicular aa. to participate in the formation of the genicular anastomosis |
| tibial recurrent, posterior | anterior tibial a. | no named branches | posterior knee, popliteus m. | anastomoses with the other genicular aa. to participate in the formation of the genicular anastomosis |
| tibial, anterior | popliteal a. | anterior tibial recurrent a., posterior tibial recurrent a., anterior malleolar a., medial malleolar a., lateral malleolar a., dorsalis pedis a. | anterior leg; dorsum of foot and deep foot | anterior tibial a. becomes continuous with the dorsalis pedis a.; the name change occurs at the level of the ankle joint |
| tibial, posterior | popliteal a. | fibular a. (peroneal), circumflex fibular a., nutrient a. of the tibia, communicating br., posterior medial malleolar brs., medial calcaneal brs., lateral plantar a., medial plantar a. | posterior and lateral leg, plantar aspect of the foot | posterior tibial a. is the direct continuation of the popliteal a. the name change occurs at the inferior border of the popliteus m. where the popliteal a. bifurcates; the tibial a. bifurcates on the medial side of the foot to give rise to the medial plantar a. and lateral plantar a. |
| The material presented in these tables is
contained in the book: MedCharts Anatomy by Thomas R. Gest & Jaye Schlesinger Published by ILOC, Inc., New York Copyright © 1995, unauthorized use prohibited. |
The excellent editorial assistance of Dr. Pat Tank, UAMS is gratefully acknowledged. |
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| Copyright© 2000 The University of Michigan. Unauthorized use prohibited. |
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