Posterior tibial artery
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Updates to Article Attributes
The posterior tibial artery (PTA) is one of the 2 branches of the tibioperoneal trunk in the lower leg and provides oxygenated blood to the posterior compartments of the leg and plantar surface of the foot. It is accompanied by the posterior tibial vein, along its course.
Summary
origin: tibioperoneal trunk
-
main branches:
termination: division into medial and lateral plantar arteries within the tarsal tunnel
Origin
The posterior tibial artery originates from the inferior margin of popliteus muscle. It runs inferomedially and runs through the posterior compartment of the leg. It enters the foot by passing posterior to the medial malleolus. Midway from the malleolus to the calcaneal tubercle, it divides into the terminal branches.
Termination
Midway between malleolus and calcaneal tubercle it divides into medial and lateral plantar arteries, within the tarsal tunnel.
Branches and Supplysupply
The following branches arise from the posterior tibial artery and supply structures of the posterior leg and sole of the foot:
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Circumflexcircumflex fibular artery: supplies proximal fibula
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Nutrientnutrient artery of the tibia: supplies tibia bone
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Muscularmuscular arteries: supply soleus and the deep posterior compartment of the leg
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Perforatingperforating arteries: usually five, supply the skin and fascia of the posterior leg
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Communicatingcommunicating artery: forms an anastomosis with the fibular artery
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Medialmedial malleolar artery: supplies the skin over the medial ankle
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Calcanealcalcaneal artery: supplies skin over calcaneal tendon, calcaneus and muscles of medial sole of foot
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Medialmedial plantar artery (terminal branch): supplies the medial side of the foot, abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis, supplies digital branch to big toe
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Laterallateral plantar artery (terminal branch): crosses the sole obliquely and laterally, supplies skin of sole of foot, supplies lateral foot and continues to form the plantar arch, which supplies the metatarsal arteries
Variant anatomy
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Posteriorposterior tibial artery aplasia: the posterior tibial arteries are absent and there is compensatory hyperplasia of the peroneal arteries
.3
- +<li><p><strong>origin:</strong> <a href="/articles/tibioperoneal-trunk">tibioperoneal trunk</a></p></li>
-<strong>origin:</strong> <a href="/articles/tibioperoneal-trunk">tibioperoneal trunk</a>-</li>-<li>-<strong>main branches:</strong><ul>-<li><a href="/articles/circumflex-fibular-artery">circumflex fibular artery</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/medial-plantar-artery">medial plantar artery</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/lateral-plantar-artery">lateral plantar artery</a></li>- +<p><strong>main branches:</strong></p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/circumflex-fibular-artery">circumflex fibular artery</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/medial-plantar-artery">medial plantar artery</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/lateral-plantar-artery">lateral plantar artery</a></p></li>
-<li>-<strong>termination:</strong> division into <a href="/articles/arterial-supply-to-the-foot">medial</a> and <a href="/articles/arterial-supply-to-the-foot">lateral plantar arteries</a> within the <a href="/articles/tarsal-tunnel">tarsal tunnel</a>-</li>-</ul><h4>Origin</h4><p>The posterior tibial artery originates from the inferior margin of popliteus muscle. It runs inferomedially and runs through the posterior compartment of the leg. It enters the foot by passing posterior to the medial malleolus. Midway from the malleolus to the calcaneal tubercle, it divides into the terminal branches.</p><h4>Termination</h4><p>Midway between malleolus and calcaneal tubercle it divides into medial and lateral plantar arteries, within the tarsal tunnel.</p><h4>Branches and Supply</h4><p>The following branches arise from the posterior tibial artery and supply structures of the posterior leg and sole of the foot:</p><ul>-<li>Circumflex fibular artery: supplies proximal fibula</li>-<li>Nutrient artery of the tibia: supplies tibia bone</li>-<li>Muscular arteries: supply soleus and the deep posterior compartment of the leg</li>-<li>Perforating arteries: usually five, supply the skin and fascia of the posterior leg</li>-<li>Communicating artery: forms an anastomosis with the fibular artery</li>-<li>Medial malleolar artery: supplies the skin over the medial ankle</li>-<li>Calcaneal artery: supplies skin over calcaneal tendon, calcaneus and muscles of medial sole of foot</li>-<li>Medial plantar artery (terminal branch): supplies the medial side of the foot, abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis, supplies digital branch to big toe</li>-<li>Lateral plantar artery (terminal branch): crosses the sole obliquely and laterally, supplies skin of sole of foot, supplies lateral foot and continues to form the plantar arch, which supplies the metatarsal arteries</li>-</ul><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li>Posterior tibial artery aplasia: the posterior tibial arteries are absent and there is compensatory hyperplasia of the peroneal arteries.</li></ul>- +<li><p><strong>termination:</strong> division into <a href="/articles/arterial-supply-to-the-foot">medial</a> and <a href="/articles/arterial-supply-to-the-foot">lateral plantar arteries</a> within the <a href="/articles/tarsal-tunnel">tarsal tunnel</a></p></li>
- +</ul><h4>Origin</h4><p>The posterior tibial artery originates from the inferior margin of popliteus muscle. It runs inferomedially and runs through the posterior compartment of the leg. It enters the foot by passing posterior to the medial malleolus. Midway from the malleolus to the calcaneal tubercle, it divides into the terminal branches.</p><h4>Termination</h4><p>Midway between malleolus and calcaneal tubercle it divides into medial and lateral plantar arteries, within the tarsal tunnel.</p><h4>Branches and supply</h4><p>The following branches arise from the posterior tibial artery and supply structures of the posterior leg and sole of the foot:</p><ul>
- +<li><p>circumflex fibular artery: supplies proximal fibula</p></li>
- +<li><p>nutrient artery of the tibia: supplies tibia bone</p></li>
- +<li><p>muscular arteries: supply soleus and the deep posterior compartment of the leg</p></li>
- +<li><p>perforating arteries: usually five, supply the skin and fascia of the posterior leg</p></li>
- +<li><p>communicating artery: forms an anastomosis with the fibular artery</p></li>
- +<li><p>medial malleolar artery: supplies the skin over the medial ankle</p></li>
- +<li><p>calcaneal artery: supplies skin over calcaneal tendon, calcaneus and muscles of medial sole of foot</p></li>
- +<li><p>medial plantar artery (terminal branch): supplies the medial side of the foot, abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis, supplies digital branch to big toe</p></li>
- +<li><p>lateral plantar artery (terminal branch): crosses the sole obliquely and laterally, supplies skin of sole of foot, supplies lateral foot and continues to form the plantar arch, which supplies the metatarsal arteries</p></li>
- +</ul><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li><p>posterior tibial artery aplasia: the posterior tibial arteries are absent and there is compensatory hyperplasia of the peroneal arteries <sup>3</sup></p></li></ul>
References changed:
- 3. Portilho P, Leite T, Cardoso R, Pires L, Silva J, Chagas C. Clinical Features of a Rare Anatomical Variation of the Posterior Tibial and Fibular Arteries. J Vasc Bras. 2016;15(3):234-8. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1590/1677-5449.003416">doi:10.1590/1677-5449.003416</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29930595">Pubmed</a>
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