Anterior tibial artery
The anterior tibial artery of the leg carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of the foot, from the popliteal 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 |
| TA | A12.2.16.042 |
| FMA | 43894 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
It is accompanied by the anterior tibial vein, along its course.
It crosses the anterior aspect of the ankle joint, at which point it becomes the dorsalis pedis artery.
Contents
CourseEdit
The artery 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.
BranchesEdit
The branches of the anterior tibial artery are:
Clinical importanceEdit
As the artery passes medial to the fibular neck it becomes vulnerable to damage during a tibial osteotomy.
Additional imagesEdit
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
External linksEdit
- Gray's s157 - The Arteries of the Lower Extremity
- Gray's s95 - Ankle joint
- 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