A morphological study of termination of popliteal artery with its clinical significance

Abstract

Abstract Out of 120 specimens of inferior extremities the normal termination of popliteal artery at the lower border of popliteal muscle into anterior tibial and posterior tibial arteries was observed in 52 specimens (43.33%) i.e. Group A. The trifurcation of popliteal artery was seen in 6 specimens (5%) i.e. Group B, In Group C, 4 specimens (3.33%) showed the origin of the peroneal artery from the low anterior tibial artery. In Group D, 2 specimens (3.33%) showed "Island" of popliteal artery. In 16 specimens (13.33%) the anterior tibial artery originated from popliteal artery proximal to the popliteus muscle and travelled downwards on the posterior surface of the popliteus muscle i.e. Group E. In Group F, 4 specimens (3.33%) showed the anterior tibial artery originated from popliteal artery proximal to the popliteus muscle. It travelled downwards on the posterior surface of the popliteus muscle and gave origin to the peroneal artery. In Group G, 10 specimens (8.33%) showed the anterior tibial artery originated from popliteal artery proximal to the popliteus muscle. It travelled downwards on the anterior surface of the popliteus muscle. In Group H, 6 specimens (5%) showed the anterior tibial artery originated from popliteal artery proximal to the popliteus muscle. It travelled downwards on the anterior surface of the popliteus muscle and gave origin to the peroneal artery. In 6 specimens (5%) the posterior tibial artery was absent i.e. Group I. In Group J, 8 specimens (6.67%) showed the small anterior tibial artery. The dorsalis pedis artery was given by the posterior tibial artery and in Group k, 6 specimens (5%) showed the small anterior and posterior tibial artery. The dorsalis pedis artery was given by the peroneal artery. There is a convenient and preferred surgical procedure. The knowledge of variant termination of popliteal artery is important during arthroscopic knee surgery in order to minimize the surgical complications. The variation in the termination of the popliteal artery should be kept in mind by the orthopaedicians doing knee joint surgery and total knee arthroplasty, by the surgeons operating on aneurysms of popliteal artery and by the radiologist performing angiographic study