anterior tibial artery, one of two divisions of the popliteal artery, arising in back of the knee, dividing into six branches, and supplying various muscles of the leg and foot. Branches are the posterior tibial recurrent, anterior tibial recurrent, lateral anterior malleolar artery, medial anterior malleolar artery, lateral malleolar rete, and medial malleolar rete. Compare posterior tibial artery.