Posterior tibial artery

Infobox Artery
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = arteria tibialis posterior
GraySubject = 162
GrayPage = 637


Caption = Back of left lower extremity, showing surface markings for bones, vessels, and nerves. (Posterior tibial artery labeled at bottom right.)


Caption2 =
Width = 228
BranchFrom = popliteal artery
BranchTo = fibular artery, medial plantar artery, lateral plantar artery
Vein = posterior tibial vein
Supplies =
MeshName =
MeshNumber =
DorlandsPre = a_61
DorlandsSuf = 12156400
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.

Branches

It typically gives rise to the fibular artery.cite journal | author = Day C, Orme R | title = Popliteal artery branching patterns -- an angiographic study | journal = Clin Radiol | volume = 61 | issue = 8 | pages = 696–9 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16843754 | doi = 10.1016/j.crad.2006.03.014]

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

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

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. [Robertson GS, Ristic CD, Bullen BR. The incidence of congenitally absent foot pulses. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1990 Mar;72(2):99-100. PMID 2185683.]

References

=Additional

External links

* - "The Arteries of the Lower Extremity"
* - "Ankle joint"
* - "Arteries of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks."
* [http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/surface/pulses/pulses.html 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