Lower limb
Posterior tibial artery
Arteria tibialis posterior
- Origin
- Direct continuation of the popliteal artery at the lower border of popliteus
- Insertion
- Descends through the deep posterior leg compartment, courses behind the medial malleolus through the tarsal tunnel, and bifurcates into medial and lateral plantar arteries
- Function
- Primary arterial conduit supplying the posterior leg musculature and the entire plantar aspect of the foot
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor fibers distributed by the tibial nerve
- Movement & chain
- Protected beneath the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles
- Palpation
- Palpable behind and slightly inferior to the medial malleolus (posterior tibial pulse)
- Clinical
- Peripheral artery disease (Ankle-Brachial Index assessment), tarsal tunnel syndrome, diabetic foot ulcers from microvascular disease
- Segmental innervation
- L4–S2 spinal levels
- In clinical practice
- Universal site for Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) Doppler measurement and routine diabetic foot vascular screening
- Region in the model
- Lower limb