Anterior tibial artery

Anterior tibial artery
Anterior tibial artery
Details
Source	popliteal artery
Branches	post. tibial recurrent; ant. tibial recurrent; musc. branches; ant. medial malleolar; ant. lateral malleolar; dorsalis pedis
Vein	anterior tibial vein
Supplies	anterior compartment of the leg
Identifiers
Latin	arteria tibialis anterior
TA98	A12.2.16.042
TA2	4708
FMA	43894
	Anatomical terminology; [edit on Wikidata]

The anterior tibial artery is an artery of the leg. It carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery.

Structure[]

Back of left lower extremity, showing origin of anterior tibial artery before it continues on the anterior side.

Course[]

The anterior tibial artery is a branch of the popliteal artery.^[1] It originates at the distal end of the popliteus muscle posterior to the tibia. The artery typically passes anterior to the popliteus muscle prior to passing between the tibia and fibula through an oval opening at the superior aspect of the interosseus membrane. The artery then descends between the tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus muscles.

It is accompanied by the anterior tibial vein, and the deep peroneal nerve, along its course.

It crosses the anterior aspect of the ankle joint, at which point it becomes the dorsalis pedis artery.

Branches[]

The branches of the anterior tibial artery are:

Clinical significance[]

As the artery passes medial to the fibular neck, it becomes vulnerable to damage during a tibial osteotomy.

Additional images[]

Right knee-joint. Posterior view.
Cross-section through middle of leg.
Schema of the arteries of the thigh. Anterior tibial artery is labeled at the bottom.
Anterior tibial artery
Anterior tibial artery
Anterior tibial artery

Reference[]

^ ^a ^b Jacob, S. (2008-01-01), Jacob, S. (ed.), "Chapter 6 - Lower limb", Human Anatomy, Churchill Livingstone, pp. 135–179, ISBN 978-0-443-10373-5, retrieved 2021-01-13

External links[]

Anatomy figure: 12:04-15 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Arteries of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks."
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_15/15-10.HTM
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_17/17-3.HTM

[:0-1] Jacob, S. (2008-01-01), Jacob, S. (ed.), "Chapter 6 - Lower limb", Human Anatomy, Churchill Livingstone, pp. 135–179, ISBN 978-0-443-10373-5, retrieved 2021-01-13

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