Anterior tibial artery

The anterior tibial artery (Latin: arteria tibialis anterior) is a blood vessel of the lower limb that supplies the lower leg and the dorsal surface of the foot. It arises from the popliteal artery at the level of the upper opening of the cruropopliteal canal - a canal between muscles that leads from the popliteal fossa into the leg.

The anterior tibial artery passes through the cruropopliteal canal. It then penetrates the interosseous membrane in its upper part and passes along the anterior surface of the interosseous membrane behind the muscles of the anterior group of the lower leg. Further, the artery passes below the inferior extensor retinaculum (a Y-shaped connective tissue band in front of the ankle joint), where it continues as the dorsalis pedis artery. The anterior tibial artery gives off the following side branches:

• Posterior tibial recurrent artery
• Anterior tibial recurrent artery
• Anterior medial malleolar artery
• Anterior lateral malleolar artery
• Muscular branches