Quick Facts
Origin: The popliteal artery within the popliteal fossa.
Course: Runs medially to the anterior aspect of the knee joint.
Branches: Contributes to the genicular anastomoses.
Supplied Structures: Vastus medialis muscle, knee joint, and surrounding fascia.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The superior medial and lateral genicular arteries are the most proximal vessels that arise from the popliteal artery within the popliteal fossa. In up to 40% of individuals, the superior lateral and medial genicular arteries arise as a single trunk (Tubbs, Shoja and Loukas, 2016).
Course
The superior medial genicular artery crosses deep to the medial head of gastrocnemius muscle and continues medially, deep to the tendons of semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gracilis, and sartorius muscles. It winds around the medial femoral condyle and approaches the anterior aspect of the knee.
Branches
The superior medial genicular artery sends a muscular branch to vastus medialis muscle, which is in communication with the descending genicular and inferior medial genicular arteries. The other branch forms an anastomosis with the contralateral genicular artery.
Supplied Structures
The superior medial genicular artery supplies the vastus medialis muscle and the knee joint.
References
Tubbs, R. S., Shoja, M. M. and Loukas, M. (2016) Bergman's Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation. Wiley.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Artery
Arteries are vessels transporting blood between heart, tissues, and other organs in order to supply them with nutrition and oxygen.
