Popliteal artery (left) (Arteria poplitea)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The femoral continuation across the popliteal fossa from the adductor hiatus to the lower border of popliteus, dividing into anterior and posterior tibial arteries; five genicular branches anastomose around the knee (the popliteal network).
Clinical notes
Knee dislocation tears it in up to 40% of high-energy cases — popliteal pulse must be checked after every knee dislocation; chronic atherosclerosis is the most dangerous peripheral disease because its collateral network is poor.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Popliteal artery (left)?
The femoral continuation across the popliteal fossa from the adductor hiatus to the lower border of popliteus, dividing into anterior and posterior tibial arteries; five genicular branches anastomose around the knee (the popliteal network).
Why is the Popliteal artery (left) clinically important?
Knee dislocation tears it in up to 40% of high-energy cases — popliteal pulse must be checked after every knee dislocation; chronic atherosclerosis is the most dangerous peripheral disease because its collateral network is poor.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details