Genicular artery

Genicular artery (from Latin geniculum, "knee") may refer to one of six arteries in the human leg, most of which anastomoses in the knee region.

The descending genicular artery is the only genicular artery to arise from the femoral artery and has the most superior or proximal origin of all six genicular arteries.

Inferior or distal to the origin of the descending genicular artery are two superior genicular arteries, both arising from the popliteal artery:

The middle genicular artery is a small branch of the popliteal artery that originates inferior or distal to both the superior genicular arteries as well as the sural arteries.

Inferior or distal to the origins of the superior and middle genicular arteries are the two inferior genicular arteries:

Arteries of the human leg

Inferior epigastric

cremasteric ♂ / round ligament ♀

Deep circumflex iliac

no major branches

Femoral

In femoral canal	superficial epigastric superficial circumflex iliac superficial external pudendal deep external pudendal (anterior scrotal ♂

Descending genicular	saphenous branch articular branches

Profunda femoris	medial circumflex femoral ascending descending superficial deep acetabular lateral circumflex femoral descending transverse ascending perforating Cruciate anastomosis Trochanteric anastomosis

Popliteal

Genicular	superior genicular (medial, lateral) middle genicular inferior genicular (medial, lateral)

Sural	no major branches

Anterior tibial	tibial recurrent posterior anterior) anterior malleolar medial lateral dorsalis pedis: tarsal (medial, lateral)

Tibial-fibular (Tibial-peroneal) trunk	Posterior tibial circumflex fibular medial plantar lateral plantar fibular (peroneal)

Arches	arcuate dorsal metatarsal first dorsal metatarsal deep plantar dorsal digital arteries plantar arch plantar metatarsal common plantar digital proper plantar digital

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