The popliteal artery has two terminal branches (anterior and posterior tibial arteries) and several side branches, including:

The lateral superior, medial superior, lateral inferior and medial inferior genicular arteries participate in forming the periarticular genicular anastomosis, which is a network of blood vessels surrounding the knee joint and providing collateral circulation.

The middle genicular artery (also known as the azygos articular artery) is a small branch of the popliteal artery that arises at the level of the knee joint split. The middle genicular artery supplies the cruciate ligament, menisci, and the synovial membrane of the knee.

The sural arteries (also called the inferior muscular arteries) are usually two branches arising from the distal part of the popliteal artery. They descend ventrally to the triceps surae muscle. These arteries supply the superficial muscles in the posterior leg compartment - the gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris muscles.

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Branches of popliteal artery