Article
View
Forthcoming Articles
Anat Cell Biol
Published online July 18, 2024
https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.24.086
Copyright © Korean Association of ANATOMISTS.
A rare variation in popliteal artery branching: anterior tibial artery and fibular artery from the common tibiofibular trunk
Caitlin Sachsenmeier 
, Debilea Chapel , Randy Kulesza
Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, USA
Correspondence to:Randy Kulesza
Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1858 West Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA 16509, USA
E-mail: rkulesza@lecom.edu
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The popliteal artery is a continuation of the femoral artery and is the main arterial supply to the lower leg and foot. Variation in the branching of the popliteal artery typically occurs proximal or distal to where the vessel crosses the popliteus muscle. In the case of a routine dissection of a 92-year-old female cadaver, a variation of the popliteal artery was found where the branches are a posterior tibial artery and a common tibiofibular trunk. It is important to recognize the vascular variations that exist in the popliteal fossa to prevent any unforeseen complications during surgeries or procedures to the knee or lower leg.
Keywords: Anatomic variation, Popliteal artery, Tibial arteries, Orthopedics
