popliteal artery [L, poples, ham of the knee; Gk, arteria, airpipe] , a continuation of the femoral artery, extending from the opening in the abductor magnus, passing through the popliteal fossa at the knee, dividing into 10 branches, and supplying various muscles of the thigh, leg, and foot. Its branches are the anterior tibial, posterior tibial, patellar rete, genicular articular, sural, medial superior genicular, lateral superior genicular, middle genicular, medial inferior genicular, and lateral inferior genicular.
