popliteal artery

Examples of popliteal artery in the following topics:

• Arteries of the Pelvis and Lower Limbs

  • The abdominal aorta divides into the major arteries of the leg: the femoral, popliteal, tibial, dorsal foot, plantar, and fibular arteries.
  • The pelvic cavity is largely supplied by the paired internal iliac arteries, formed when the common iliac artery divides the internal iliac artery at the vertebral level L5 descends inferiorly into the lesser pelvis.
  • The external iliac artery passes into the thigh, becoming the femoral artery.
  • Key branches include the obturator artery, the inferior vesical artery in men and the equivalent vaginal artery in females, and the rectal and gluteal arteries.
  • The posterior trunk gives rise to arteries that supply the posterior pelvic wall and the gluteal region, including the iliolumbar artery that supplies the psoas major muscle, the lateral sacral arteries, and the superior gluteal artery.

• Pulse

  • Pulse is a measurement of heart rate by touching and counting beats at several body locations, typically at the wrist radial artery.
  • The pulse is the physical expansion of an artery generated by the increase in pressure associated with systole of the heart.
  • Pulse rate or velocity is usually measured either at the wrist from the radial artery and is recorded as beats per minute (bpm).
  • Other common measurement locations include the carotid artery in the neck and popliteal artery behind the knee
  • Measurement of the pulse can occur at several locations, including the radial artery shown here.

• Veins of the Lower Limbs

  • The deep veins of the lower extremity have valves for unidirectional flow and accompany the arteries and their branches.
  • The deep veins of the leg accompany the arteries and their branches and possess numerous valves that aid in unidirectional blood flow.
  • The popliteal vein then carries blood from the knee joint up through the thigh.
  • Mid-thigh, it becomes the femoral vein, which is closely associated with the femoral artery.
  • The popliteal vein, shown here in blue, extends from the hip to the knee and helps drain blood from the lower extremities.

• Muscular Arteries

  • Distributing arteries are medium-sized arteries that draw blood from an elastic artery and branch into resistance vessels.
  • Muscular or distributing arteries are medium-sized arteries that draw blood from an elastic artery and branch into resistance vessels, including small arteries and arterioles.
  • The splenic artery (lienal artery), the blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the spleen, is an example of a muscular artery.
  • It branches from the celiac artery and follows a course superior to the pancreas.
  • Transverse section of the human spleen showing the distribution of the splenic artery and its branches

• Artery Function

  • Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart under pressure.
  • As with veins, arteries are comprised of three layers: the tunicae intima, media, and externa.
  • This pressure variation within the artery produces the observable pulse that reflects heart activity.
  • Larger arteries are typically elastic and smaller arteries are more likely to be muscular.
  • Distinguish the function of the arterial system from that of venous system

• Elastic Arteries

  • Elastic arteries contain larger numbers of collagen and elastin filaments in their tunica media than muscular arteries do, giving them the ability to stretch in response to each pulse.
  • Elastic arteries include the largest arteries in the body, those closest to the heart, and give rise to the smaller muscular arteries.
  • The pulmonary arteries, the aorta, and its branches together comprise the body's system of elastic arteries.
  • In elastic arteries, the tunica media is rich with elastic and connective tissue.
  • The aorta makes up most of the elastic arteries in the body.

• Anastomoses

  • Circulatory anastomoses are named based on the vessels they join: two arteries (arterio-arterial anastomosis), two veins (veno-venous anastomosis), or between an artery and a vein (arterio-venous anastomosis).
  • Anastomoses between arteries and anastomoses between veins result in a multitude of arteries and veins serving the same volume of tissue.
  • Coronary artery anastomoses.
  • If one coronary artery is obstructed by an atheroma, a degradation of the arterial walls, the second artery is still able to supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium.
  • Blood flows up to the brain through the vertebral arteries and through the internal carotid arteries.

• The Aorta and Its Branches

  • The aorta is the largest artery in the systemic circulatory system.
  • The aorta is an elastic artery, meaning it is able to distend.
  • The ascending aorta has two small branches, the left and right coronary arteries.
  • The arch of the aorta has three branches: the brachiocephalic artery, which itself divides into right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.
  • These arteries provide blood to both arms and the head.

• Development of the Cardiovascular System

  • On the obliteration of the stapedial artery, this anastomosis enlarges and forms the internal maxillary artery; the branches of the stapedial artery are now branches of this vessel.
  • Approximately 30 posterolateral branches arise off the aorta and will form the intercostal arteries, upper and lower extremity arteries, lumbar arteries, and the lateral sacral arteries.
  • Finally, the ventral branches of the aorta consist of the vitelline arteries and umbilical arteries.
  • The vitelline arteries form the celiac, and superior and inferior mesenteric arteries of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • After birth, the umbilical arteries will form the internal iliac arteries.

• Development of the Heart

  • The human arterial and venous systems develop from different embryonic areas.
  • Approximately 30 posterolateral branches arise off the aorta and will form the intercostal arteries, upper and lower extremity arteries, lumbar arteries, and the lateral sacral arteries.
  • Finally, the ventral branches of the aorta consist of the vitelline arteries and umbilical arteries.
  • The vitelline arteries form the celiac, superior and inferior mesenteric arteries of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • After birth, the umbilical arteries will form the internal iliac arteries.