The anterior tibial artery gives rise to the following side branches on its course:

Posterior tibial recurrent artery
Anterior tibial recurrent artery
Anterior lateral malleolar artery
Anterior medial malleolar artery

The posterior tibial recurrent artery is an inconsistent branch that supplies the popliteus muscle and contributes to supplying the knee joint. It arises from the anterior tibial artery before it pierces the interosseous membrane of the lower leg. The artery curves and ascends to the popliteal fossa, passing anterior to the popliteus. The posterior tibial recurrent artery anastomoses with the inferior genicular branches of the popliteal artery.

The anterior tibial recurrent artery is also a branch of the anterior tibial artery that contributes to supplying the knee joint. It ascends to the popliteal fossa and terminates in the patellar network by anastomosing with other vessels forming the plexus.

Note: The patellar network is located around and above the patella. It is formed by the following blood vessels: lateral inferior genicular artery and medial inferior genicular artery, lateral superior genicular artery and medial superior genicular artery, descending genicular artery (branch of the femoral artery), descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery, and the anterior tibial recurrent artery. This network supplies the knee joint and provides collateral circulation to leg.

The anterior medial malleolar artery is a branch that arises at the level of the medial malleolus, the artery curves around it and forms the medial malleolar network. The anterior medial malleolar artery supplies the region of the medial malleolus, the tarsal bones, and the ankle joint.

The anterior lateral malleolar artery arises at the level of the lateral malleolus, then curves around it and forms the lateral malleolar network. The artery supplies the region of the lateral malleolus, as well as the ankle joint and the tarsal bones.

In the foot, the anterior tibial artery continues as the dorsalis pedis artery. (Learn more about it and its main branches here!)

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Branches of anterior tibial artery