Eur J Anat, 16 (2): 157-162 (2012)

Popliteal artery branching pattern: a cadaveric study

Reena Singla, Subhash Kaushal, Usha Chabbra

Department of Anatomy, MMIMSR, Mullana-Ambala, 133001 Haryana, India

ABSTRACT The study on 30 embalmed human cadavers (60 lower limbs) was carried out to find out the variations in the branching pattern of the popliteal artery. Sixty embalmed lower limbs (30 left, 30 right) belonging to 30 adult human cadavers (54 males, 6 females) formed the material for this study. The approximate age of the cadavers was 25-60 years. Variations related to the origin and disposition of the collateral branches of the popliteal artery were observed in 9 (15%) limbs as follows: common trunk between superior lateral genicular and middle genicular artery in 7 (5 male, 2 female) specimens; double middle genicular arteries in 1male specimen; and inferior lateral genicular artery was arising from anterior tibial artery in 1male specimen. Variations related to termination of the popliteal artery are depicted as follows: in 2 male specimens, left side unilateral variation of the high division of the popliteal artery was observed. The bifurcation of the popliteal artery at the level of the proximal border of the popliteus muscle was observed, the prevalence being of 3.3%. Out of these 2 limbs, in one of them variation of the origin of the peroneal artery from the anterior tibial artery was observed. Variations of popliteal artery were observed in 15% of specimens. Knowledge of these variations will be beneficial to angiographers for the evaluation of arteriograms, and to vascular surgeons for various surgical approaches in the lower extremity.

Keywords: High division, Tibial arteries, Peroneal artery, Popliteus muscle