AnatomyLower limbNerves and vesselsPosterior tibial artery

AnatomyLower limbNerves and vesselsPosterior tibial artery

Posterior tibial artery

Author: Jana Vasković, MD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: November 03, 2023
Reading time: 8 minutes

Posterior tibial artery (Arteria tibialis posterior)

The posterior tibial artery is a branch of the popliteal artery that supplies the posterior compartment of the leg and the sole of the foot. It is located in the posterior compartment of the leg, coursing from the inferior margin of the popliteus muscle up to the medial malleolus.

Along its course, the posterior tibial artery gives off eight branches that supply the structures of the posterior leg compartment. It terminates below the medial malleolus by giving off two terminal branches; medial plantar artery and lateral plantar artery.

Key facts about the posterior tibial artery
Origin	Popliteal artery
Branches	Circumflex fibular, nutrient, muscular, perforating, communicating, medial malleolar, calcaneal. Terminal branches: Lateral plantar and medial plantar arteries
Supply	Proximal end of fibula, tibia, soleus muscle, deep flexors of leg, skin and fascia of posterior leg and heel, muscles of sole of foot

This article will discuss the anatomy and functions of the posterior tibial artery.

Contents

Course
Relations
Branches and supply
1. Medial plantar artery
2. Lateral plantar artery
Clinical relations
1. Posterior tibial artery pulse
Sources

+ Show all

Course

The posterior tibial artery arises as a terminal branch of the popliteal artery between the tibia and fibula at the level of the lower margin of the popliteus muscle. It takes an inferomedial course, descending through the posterior (flexor) compartment of the leg. The artery enters the foot by passing inferiorly to the medial malleolus. Midway between the malleolus and the tubercle of calcaneus, it ends by splitting into the lateral and medial plantar arteries.

Relations

The proximal part of the posterior tibial artery lies deep to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. As it descends through the leg, the artery courses over the posterior surfaces of the tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, tibia and the ankle joint. The distal part of the artery is more superficial, coursing underneath the skin. At the ankle level, the artery runs parallel and anterior to the calcaneal tendon. It then traverses the tarsal tunnel, deep to the flexor retinaculum, entering the plantar compartment of the foot. The terminal bifurcation of the posterior tibial artery is located deep to the adductor hallucis muscle.

The two posterior tibial veins accompany the artery. The artery is also in relation to the tibial nerve. The nerve crosses the posterior side of the artery’s origin and is located medial to the artery along its course. At the level of the flexor retinaculum, the tibial artery is found posterior to the veins and anterior to the posterior tibial nerve (branch of the tibial nerve). A handy mnemonic to remember their relations going anteroposteriorly is VAN (Veins-Artery-Nerve).

Branches and supply

The posterior tibial artery has ten branches in total; circumflex fibular, nutrient, muscular, perforating, communicating, medial malleolar, calcaneal, fibular, lateral plantar and medial plantar arteries.

The circumflex fibular artery arises immediately after the origin of the posterior tibial artery. It surrounds the neck of fibula and anastomoses with the inferior medial and lateral genicular and anterior tibial recurrent arteries. It supplies the proximal end of fibula.
The fibular artery arises approximately 2.5cm after the posterior tibial artery arises, distal to the popliteal muscle, where it descends along the medial aspect of the fibula. Read more about this artery here. The proximal part of the posterior tibial artery as far as where the fibular artery branches off is often referred to as the tibiofibular trunk (or tibioperoneal trunk).
The nutrient artery of tibia arises distally to the circumflex fibular artery. It enters the tibia below the soleal line, being the main vessel that supplies this bone.
The muscular branches stem serially from the trunk of the artery and serve for vascularization of the soleus muscle and the deep flexors of the leg; popliteus, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus and tibialis posterior.
The perforating branches arise between the soleus and flexor digitorum longus muscle. There are usually five of them, each dividing into anterior and posterior divisions that together supply the skin and fascia of the posterior leg.
The communicating branch emerges above the distal end of tibia deep to flexor hallucis longus muscle. It anastomoses with the communicating branch of the fibular artery.
The medial malleolar branches surround the medial malleolus and contribute to the medial malleolar vascular network, via which they supply the skin of this area.
The calcaneal branches arise just proximally to the terminal bifurcation of the posterior tibial artery. They perforate the flexor retinaculum and supply the skin over the calcaneal tendon and calcaneus, and the muscles of the medial part of the sole of the foot. They anastomose with medial malleolar arteries and calcaneal branches of the fibular artery.

Explore our articles, videos, quizzes and labeled diagrams to master the blood vessels of the leg and knee.

Medial plantar artery

In the plantar compartment of the foot, the posterior tibial artery divides into the medial and lateral plantar arteries which supply the muscles of the sole of the foot.

The medial plantar artery, together with the medial plantar nerve and vein, forms the medial neurovascular cord of the foot. The artery courses between the abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis. Upon reaching the medial border of the big toe, it anastomoses with a branch of the first plantar metatarsal artery. Near the base of the first metatarsal bone, the artery splits into the three superficial digital branches which anastomose with the plantar metatarsal arteries 1-3.

Lateral plantar artery

The lateral plantar artery, together with the lateral plantar nerve and vein, represents the lateral neurovascular cord of the foot. The artery courses obliquely and laterally over the quadratus plantae muscle, passing deep to the abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis and abductor digiti minimi muscles. It then curves around the lateral border of the oblique head of adductor hallucis muscle, passes deep to it and takes a medial course.

Upon reaching the interval between the first and second metatarsal bases, it anastomoses with the deep plantar artery and completes the deep plantar arch. The four plantar metatarsal arteries stem from the transverse part of the lateral plantar artery. They run between the metatarsal bones 2-5, split into the common digital plantar arteries, which ultimately split into the proper digital plantar arteries on both sides of the toes.

Clinical relations

Posterior tibial artery pulse

The posterior tibial artery is easily palpable at the location called the Pimenta’s point. This site is located in the middle of an imaginary line that connects the medial malleolus and the insertion of the Achilles tendon. To assess the posterior tibial pulse, the examiner places three fingers at the Pimenta’s point, aligning them in parallel to the leg.

The examination is usually qualitative, with the intention to determine whether the pulse exists or not. In case the posterior tibial pulse cannot be palpated, that may indicate to peripheral vascular disease.

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

References:

Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Netter, F. (2019). Atlas of Human Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.
Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

Illustrators:

Posterior tibial artery (Arteria tibialis posterior) - Liene Znotina

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