Posterior tibial artery

Artery: Posterior tibial artery
Back of left lower extremity, showing surface markings for bones, vessels, and nerves. (Posterior tibial artery labeled at bottom right.)
Latin	arteria tibialis posterior
Gray's	subject #162 637
Source	popliteal artery
Branches	fibular artery, medial plantar artery, lateral plantar artery
Vein	posterior tibial vein

The posterior tibial artery of the lower limb carries blood to the posterior compartment of the leg and plantar surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery. It is accompanied by a deep vein, the posterior tibial vein, along its course.

[edit] Branches

It typically gives rise to the fibular artery.^[1]

It also gives rise to medial plantar artery and lateral plantar artery.

In addition a calcaneal branch to the medial aspect of the calcaneus.

[edit] Palpation of the posterior tibial artery pulse

The posterior tibial artery pulse can be readily palpated posterior and inferior to the medial malleolus and is often examined by physicians when assessing a patient for peripheral vascular disease. It is very rarely absent in young and healthy individuals; in a study of 547 healthy individuals only one person did not have a palpable posterior tibial artery.^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] Additional images

Cross-section through middle of leg.

Major arteries of the leg (posterior view)

The plantar arteries. Deep view.

[edit] External links

• Gray's s157 - "The Arteries of the Lower Extremity"
• Gray's s95 - "Ankle joint"
• SUNY Figs 12:04-14 - "Arteries of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks."
• Image at umich.edu - pulse
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_15/15-10.HTM
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_17/17-3.HTM

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