Lower limb
Middle genicular artery
Arteria genus media
- Origin
- Arises from the anterior aspect of the popliteal artery at the level of the knee joint line
- Insertion
- Pierces the oblique popliteal ligament to enter the intercondylar notch of the femur
- Function
- Primary vascular supply to the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL, PCL) and central synovial membrane
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor fibers
- Movement & chain
- Centrally located within the intercondylar notch between the cruciate ligaments
- Palpation
- Not palpably accessible due to deep intra-articular position
- Clinical
- Rupture of the middle genicular branches during acute ACL tear produces rapid, tense hemarthrosis within 1-2 hours of injury
- Segmental innervation
- L4–S1 roots
- In clinical practice
- Aspiration of gross bloody fluid (acute hemarthrosis with fat droplets) confirms acute cruciate ligament or osteochondral injury
- Region in the model
- Lower limb