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Anterior tibial artery

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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The anterior tibial artery (a. tibialis anterior) branches off from the popliteal artery in the popliteal fossa (at the lower edge of the popliteal muscle), enters the tibia-popliteal canal and immediately leaves it through the anterior opening in the upper part of the interosseous membrane of the leg. Then the artery, together with the veins of the same name and the deep peroneal nerve, descends along the anterior surface of the membrane downwards and continues onto the foot as the dorsal artery of the foot.

Branches of the anterior tibial artery:

Muscular branches (rr. musculares) go to the muscles of the leg.
The posterior tibial recurrent artery (a. recurrens tibialis posterior) originates within the popliteal fossa, goes up under the popliteal muscle, anastomoses with the medial inferior genicular artery, participates in the formation of the knee joint network; supplies blood to the knee joint and popliteal muscle.
The anterior tibial recurrent artery (a. recurrens tibialis anterior) originates from the anterior tibial artery as it exits onto the anterior surface of the leg, goes upward, pierces the anterior tibial muscle and anastomoses with the arteries that form the knee joint network. It takes part in the blood supply of the knee and tibiofibular joints, as well as the anterior tibial muscle and the long extensor of the fingers.
The lateral anterior malleolar artery (a. malleolaris anterior lateralis) begins above the lateral malleolus and goes to its anterior surface under the tendon of the long extensor of the fingers. It supplies the lateral malleolus, the capsule of the ankle joint and the bones of the tarsus, and takes part in the formation of the lateral malleolar network (rete malleolare laterale); it anastomoses with the lateral malleolar branches (from the peroneal artery).
The medial anterior malleolar artery (a. malleolaris anterior medialis) departs from the anterior tibial artery at the level of the previous one, goes under the tendon of the anterior tibial muscle, sends branches to the capsule of the ankle joint, anastomoses with the medial malleolar branches (from the posterior tibial artery), and participates in the formation of the medial malleolar network.

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