The anterior tibial artery of the lower limb

Lower limb

The lower limb is a limb of the body.According to Terminologia Anatomica, it includes the pelvic girdle, buttocks, hip, and thigh, as well as the components distal to the knee.-References:...

 carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal

Dorsum (biology)

In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...

 surface of the foot

Foot

The foot is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws...

, from the popliteal artery

Popliteal artery

In human anatomy, the popliteal artery is defined as the extension of the "superficial" femoral artery after passing through the adductor canal and adductor hiatus above the knee...

.

It is accompanied by a deep vein

Deep vein

Deep vein is a term used to describe a vein that is deep in the body. It is used to differentiate deep veins from veins which are close to the surface, also known as superficial veins....

, the anterior tibial vein

Anterior tibial vein

In human anatomy, the anterior tibial vein of the lower limb carries blood from the anterior compartment of the leg to the popliteal vein which is forms when it joins with the posterior tibial vein....

, along its course.

It crosses the anterior aspect of the ankle joint, at which point it becomes the dorsalis pedis artery

Dorsalis pedis artery

In human anatomy, the dorsalis pedis artery , is a blood vessel of the lower limb that carries oxygenated blood from the dorsal surface of the foot. It arises at the anterior aspect of the ankle joint and is a continuation of the anterior tibial artery...

.

Branches

The branches of the anterior tibial artery are:

• post. tibial recurrent artery
• ant. tibial recurrent artery
• muscular branches
• anterior medial malleolar artery
  Anterior medial malleolar artery
  The anterior medial malleolar artery arises about 5 cm. above the ankle-joint and passes behind the tendons of the Extensor hallucis longus and Tibialis anterior, to the medial side of the ankle, upon which it ramifies, anastomosing with branches of the posterior tibial and medial plantar arteries...
  
  
• anterior lateral malleolar artery
  Anterior lateral malleolar artery
  The anterior lateral malleolar artery passes beneath the tendons of the Extensor digitorum longus and Peronæus tertius and supplies the lateral side of the ankle, anastomosing with the perforating branch of the peroneal artery, and with ascending twigs from the lateral tarsal artery.-External...
  
  
• dorsalis pedis artery
  Dorsalis pedis artery
  In human anatomy, the dorsalis pedis artery , is a blood vessel of the lower limb that carries oxygenated blood from the dorsal surface of the foot. It arises at the anterior aspect of the ankle joint and is a continuation of the anterior tibial artery...
  
  
• Circumflex fibular artery
  Circumflex fibular artery
  The circumflex fibular artery is a branch of the anterior tibial artery which supplies blood to the knee.-External links:*...
  
  

External links

- The Arteries of the Lower Extremity - Ankle joint - "Arteries of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks."

• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_15/15-10.HTM
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_17/17-3.HTM