The branches of the popliteal artery A. poplitea, the popliteal artery, is a direct continuation of the femoral artery. In the popliteal fossa a. poplitea is located on the bone itself (where it can be pressed against the bone in the half-bent position of the limb) and the posterior surface of the articular capsule anteriorly and somewhat medially from v. poplitea; further down the artery lies on the back surface m. popliteus covered heads m. gastrocnemius, and then, going under the edge of m. soleus, is divided into two final branches (aa. tibiales anterior et posterior).
1. Ah. genus superiores lateralis et medialis, the upper knee arteries, lateral and medial, extend at the level of the upper edge of the condyle of the condyle; each around the knee joint goes around to its front surface, where, joining the fistula between them, they participate in the formation of the arterial network of the knee joint (rete articulare genus).
2. Ah. genus inferiores lateralis et medialis, the lower knee arteries, lateral and medial, in the region of the knee joint branch like the upper arteries, but depart from a. poplitea at the level of the lower edge of the condyle of the femur.
3. A. genus media, the middle knee artery, extends in the middle between the upper and lower arteries of the knee joint, pierces the articular capsule and forks in the cruciate ligaments.