Origin
Arises from the popliteal artery in the popliteal fossa, at the distal border of the popliteus muscle.
Course
- Proximally in its course, in the posterior compartment of the leg, the anterior tibial artery gives off the:
- Posterior tibial recurrent artery
- Circumflex fibular artery
- Subsequently, it passes through a gap above the interosseous membrane into the anterior compartment of the leg.
- It lies on the interosseous membrane, lateral to tibialis anterior muscle.
Termination
The anterior tibial artery passes in front of the ankle joint, passing under the Y-shaped flexor retinaculum to continue as the dorsalis pedis artery
Branches
- Anterior tibial recurrent artery – arises immediately, passes upward in the tibialis anterior muscle to anastomose with lateral genicular branches (of the popliteal artery) at the knee
- Muscular branches
- Perforating branches – pass behind extensor digitorum longus, piercing the deep fascia and supplying the skin of the anterior leg
- Anterior medial malleolar artery – anastomoses with the medial malleolar branch of the posterior tibial artery
- Anterior lateral malleolar artery – anastomoses with the perforating branch of the peroneal artery