Neurovasculature of the leg and knee (anterior view) (English)

The anterior tibial artery and its branches supply arterial blood to the anterior aspect of the leg. Arising from the popliteal artery, it passes from the posteriorly located popliteal fossa to the anterior leg via an oval aperture in the proximal part of the interosseous membrane, medial to the head of the fibula. The anterior tibial artery continues along the anterior aspect of the interosseous membrane between the tibia and fibula. In the region of the ankle joint, it gives off anterior medial and anterior lateral malleolar branches for supply of the ankle joint, terminating in the foot as the dorsalis pedis artery. The knee is supplied by a network of interlacing branches of the femoral and popliteal arteries, collectively this network is called the genicular anastomosis.Venous drainage occurs via the dual action of deep and superficial venous systems, with the anterior tibial veins draining deep structures of the anterior leg and the great and short saphenous veins draining superficial structures. All lower limb veins eventually empty into the femoral vein.The common fibular nerve along with its two branches, the superficial and deep fibular nerves, provides innervation to the lateral and anterior compartments of the leg, respectively. The common fibular is the smaller terminal branch of the sciatic nerve, the larger terminal branch being the tibial nerve.