The medial superior genicular, a branch 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 ...

, runs in front of the

Semimembranosus The semimembranosus muscle () is the most medial of the three hamstring muscles in the thigh. It is so named because it has a flat tendon of origin. It lies posteromedially in the thigh, deep to the semitendinosus muscle. It extends the hip joint ...

and

Semitendinosus The semitendinosus () is a long superficial muscle in the back of the thigh. It is so named because it has a very long tendon of insertion. It lies posteromedially in the thigh, superficial to the semimembranosus. Structure The semitendinosus, r ...

, above the medial head of the

Gastrocnemius The gastrocnemius muscle (plural ''gastrocnemii'') is a superficial two-headed muscle that is in the back part of the lower leg of humans. It runs from its two heads just above the knee to the heel, a three joint muscle (knee, ankle and subtalar ...

, and passes beneath the tendon of the

Adductor magnus Adductor may refer to: * One of the anatomical terms of motion * Adductor muscle (disambiguation) * Adductor canal The adductor canal, also known as the subsartorial canal or Hunter’s canal, is an aponeurotic tunnel in the middle third of the th ...

. It divides into two branches, one of which supplies the

vastus medialis The vastus medialis (vastus internus or teardrop muscle) is an extensor muscle located medially in the thigh that extends the knee. The vastus medialis is part of the quadriceps muscle group. Structure The vastus medialis is a muscle present i ...

, anastomosing with the

highest genicular The descending genicular artery (highest genicular artery) arises from the femoral artery just before it passes through the adductor hiatus. It immediately divides into two branches: * a saphenous branch, which classically joins with the medial ...

and

medial inferior genicular The inferior genicular arteries (inferior articular arteries), two in number, arise from the popliteal beneath the gastrocnemius. On the inside of the knee, is the medial inferior genicular artery, and on the outer side is the lateral inferior geni ...

arteries; the other ramifies close to the surface of the femur, supplying it and the knee-joint, and anastomosing with 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 s ...

. The medial superior genicular artery is frequently of small size, a condition, which is associated with an increase in the size of the highest genicular.

Gallery

File:Thigh arteries schema.svg

References

Arteries of the lower limb {{circulatory-stub

Gallery

See also

References