Figure 16-3
Blood vessels of the leg. Veins (grey) shown on the right leg. Arteries (black) shown on the left leg.

The leg receives arterial blood from the popliteal artery and its branches. At the inferior edge of the posterior knee, the popliteal artery branches. First, the anterior tibial passes anteriorly between the tibia and fibula to serve the anterior compartment of the leg and the dorsum of the foot. Second, the posterior tibial artery, descends the posterior leg between the superficial and deep posterior compartments to serve the posterior and lateral compartments of the leg and the plantar portion of the foot.

Slightly distal to its origin, the posterior tibial artery gives rise to a laterally placed peroneal artery, which mainly serves the lateral compartment of the leg.

The posterior tibial continues inferiorly and, like the tibial nerve, courses around the posterior side of the medial malleolus to split into medial and lateral plantar arteries. These arteries serve all of the plantar foot. (Figure 16-2)