Anatomy of the Cat

by Jacob Reighard; H. S. Jennings

b. A large muscular branch (e) passes caudad (or ventrad) and distad across the distal end of the adductor femoris (7) and between the gracilis (9) and semimembranosus, supplying these muscles. Other small muscular branches may be given off from both sides of the femoral.

c. A. articularis genu suprema (h).—The superior articular artery arises from the femoral, either in common with the saphenous artery or separately, a little proximad of the point where the femoral ceases to be superficial. It passes toward the knee, between the vastus medialis and semimembranosus, and covered by the sartorius (1), and ramifies over the medial surface of the knee-joint and in the structures just proximad of the joint.

d. A. saphena (f).—The saphenous artery frequently takes origin in common with the superior articular (h), but may arise separately at about the same level. It passes distad across the gracilis (9), accompanied by the saphenous nerve (g) and vein, sends several branches dorsad (toward the knee), and at about the middle of the lower leg it divides into two main branches, a dorsal branch (k), passing to the dorsum of the foot, and a plantar branch (j), to the sole of the foot. The dorsal branch is accompanied by the main saphenous nerve (g) and vein. It sends one or two branches to the medial side of the ankle-joint, passes then onto the dorsum of the foot, and divides into four main branches. The medial one passes along the medial side of the medial digit; the other three pass to the intervals between the digits. Each divides into two branches which supply the contiguous sides of the two digits between which the interval lies. The dorsal branch thus supplies arteries to the sides of all the digits except to the lateral side of the lateral digit. This is supplied by A. suralis.

The plantar branch (j) is larger than the dorsal. It passes distad on the medial surface of the flexor longus hallucis, accompanied by the tibial nerve, and across the space between the tendon of Achilles and the flexor. It gives superficial and deep branches to the structures about the ankle-joint, and sends inward a branch from the lateral side ([Fig. 128], d) which joins the termination of A. tibialis anterior to form the plantar arch. It then passes distad along the plantar surface of the foot, nearer its medial border. Beneath the pad in the sole of the foot it divides into three branches which supply the interosseous spaces between the three digits.

e. A. poplitea.—The main trunk of the femoral artery passes between the vastus medialis and the semimembranosus and then through the distal portion of the adductor femoris to reach the popliteal space. This is the space ventrad (or caudad) of the knee, between the biceps femoris on one side and the semimembranosus on the other. Here the artery receives the name A. poplitea, or popliteal artery. The popliteal artery gives off a number of large branches as it passes through the popliteal space, passes between the condyles of the femur and underneath the popliteal muscle, and finally turns dorsolaterad between the tibia and fibula, just distad of the head of the fibula. It now receives the name A. tibialis anterior and passes distad along the dorsal (anterior) border of the fibula.

Branches of the popliteal artery:

1. A. suralis.—This is a large branch which passes distad from the caudal side of the popliteal artery. It sends branches to the biceps and to the fat in the popliteal space, and passes onto the ventral border of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius. It sends branches to both heads of the gastrocnemius and to the popliteus, passes distad onto the lateral surface of the tendon of Achilles, and may be traced to the proximal portion of the dorsolateral side of the foot, where it sends many branches to the integument about the ankle-joint. It then passes along the lateral side of the foot and supplies the artery on the lateral side of the fifth digit.

2. Aa. genu posteriores.—Several small arteries which pass to the knee-joint.

3. Rami musculares.—Numerous small branches to the muscles about the popliteal space.

4. A. tibialis posterior.—This is the largest branch of the popliteal artery, which it leaves just before the latter passes beneath the popliteal muscle. The tibialis posterior passes at first mediad, then turns distad, passes across the popliteus muscle onto the surface of the flexor longus hallucis, and ramifies in the substance of this muscle and its tendon. It gives branches also to the gastrocnemius and soleus. (It does not pass into the foot as does the corresponding artery in man.)