Anterior tibial artery

At a glance

English

Anterior tibial artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria tibialis anterior

System

Artery

Region

Foot

Side

Paired, left and right

About the anterior tibial artery

The anterior tibial artery is the main vessel of the anterior, or extensor, compartment of the leg. It is one of the two terminal branches of the popliteal artery, which divides at the lower border of the popliteus muscle behind the upper tibia. From there the anterior tibial artery has to reach the front of the leg, so it turns forwards and passes through the gap above the upper edge of the interosseous membrane, between the tibia and the fibula.

Once in front of the membrane it descends on it, lying deep among the extensor muscles. In the upper leg it sits between tibialis anterior on the medial side and extensor digitorum longus laterally; lower down extensor hallucis longus comes to lie beside it. Paired venae comitantes, the anterior tibial veins, run with it, and the deep fibular nerve joins it from the lateral side and keeps it company to the ankle. Near the ankle the vessel becomes more superficial and lies on the lower end of the tibia, midway between the two malleoli. As it crosses the front of the ankle joint its name changes and it carries on as the dorsalis pedis artery.

On the way it gives off a small posterior tibial recurrent branch before it leaves the back of the leg, an anterior tibial recurrent branch that climbs to the network around the knee, many muscular branches to the extensor compartment, and medial and lateral anterior malleolar arteries that join the networks over the two malleoli.

Clinically the artery is vulnerable where it passes close to the neck of the fibula, so surgeons take care during osteotomy of the upper tibia and fibula. Swelling within the tight anterior compartment can compress it, as in anterior compartment syndrome.

Course and supply

Arises from

The popliteal artery, as one of its two terminal branches at the lower border of the popliteus muscle behind the tibia.

Ends in

Continues across the front of the ankle joint as the dorsalis pedis artery, after giving recurrent, muscular and anterior malleolar branches.

Supplies

Supplies the extensor muscles in the front compartment of the leg, contributes to the arterial networks around the knee and ankle, and through the dorsalis pedis feeds the back of the foot.