The superior genicular arteries (superior articular arteries), two in number, arise one on either side of the
popliteal artery
The popliteal artery is a deeply placed continuation of the femoral artery opening in the distal portion of the adductor magnus muscle. It courses through the popliteal fossa and ends at the lower border of the popliteus muscle, where it branches ...
, and wind around the
femur
The femur (; ), or thigh bone, is the proximal bone of the hindlimb in tetrapod vertebrates. The head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum in the pelvic bone forming the hip joint, while the distal part of the femur articulates with ...
immediately above its
condyles
A condyle (;Entry "condyle"
in
knee-joint
In humans and other primates, the knee joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two joints: one between the femur and tibia (tibiofemoral joint), and one between the femur and patella (patellofemoral joint). It is the largest joint in the hu ...
. The
medial superior genicular artery
The medial superior genicular, a branch of the popliteal artery, runs in front of the Semimembranosus and Semitendinosus, above the medial head of the Gastrocnemius, and passes beneath the tendon of the Adductor magnus.
It divides into two branche ...
is on the inside of the knee and the
lateral superior genicular artery
The lateral superior genicular artery is a branch of the popliteal artery that supplies a portion of the knee joint.
Course
It passes above the lateral condyle of the femur, beneath the tendon of the Biceps femoris.
Branching
It divides into a ...
is on the outside.
Gallery
File:Thigh arteries schema.svg
See also
*
Patellar anastomosis
The patellar network (circulatory anastomosis around the knee-joint, patellar anastomosis, genicular anastomosis, articular vascular network of knee or rete articulare genushttp://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/rete+articulare+genus) i ...
References
Arteries of the lower limb
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