Lower limb
Popliteal artery
Arteria poplitea
- Origin
- Continuation of the femoral artery at the adductor hiatus
- Insertion
- Passes through the popliteal fossa to bifurcate at the lower border of popliteus into anterior and posterior tibial arteries
- Function
- Supplies the knee joint via genicular branches and forms the sole conduit to the leg and foot
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor fibers distributed by the tibial nerve
- Movement & chain
- Deep within the popliteal fossa; flexes with knee motion
- Palpation
- Palpable deeply in the center of the popliteal fossa with the patient prone and knee semi-flexed
- Clinical
- Popliteal artery aneurysm (most common peripheral aneurysm, high thromboembolic risk), popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, transection in posterior knee dislocation
- Segmental innervation
- L4–S2 spinal segments
- In clinical practice
- Vascular integrity must be rigorously checked in knee dislocations; revascularization within golden 6-hour window prevents limb loss
- Region in the model
- Lower limb