Have you ever felt that little bump behind your knee? We don't think about it much in our daily lives, but there's a blood vessel there that's essential to the health of our legs, acting like a major highway. It's the main supply line that carries the energy and nutrients needed for all of these things when we walk, run, and bend our legs. Today, we're talking about the Popliteal Artery.
What is the Popliteal Artery?
Simply put, this is a major blood vessel that runs along the back of your knee. You have two arteries like this in each of your legs. Like a main water pipe for a city, this artery carries clean, oxygen-rich blood to your knee, lower leg, and foot.
This artery has small branches that branch off from it. It is through this network of branches that the lower parts of your legs receive the necessary blood supply. Imagine, this artery is the main road, and the side roads that branch off from it lead to the surrounding villages. This is the same.
Here are some of the main areas that this artery supplies blood to:
- Lower hamstring muscles
- Lower thigh bone
- Knee
- Upper shin bone
- Calf muscles
In addition, your doctor will use this artery to check the blood flow in your leg. That is, this is a pulse point . The doctor will feel behind your knee to see if your leg is getting good blood flow.
Where exactly is this in our body?
This is located just behind your knee. It begins as an extension of the superficial femoral artery in the thigh. The place where it begins is called the adductor canal.
From there, this artery travels down through the soft, hollow space behind the knee (the popliteal fossa). This soft space is where many important blood vessels and nerves pass.
This artery ends just below the knee, at the top of the thigh, after passing through the groin area. There, it divides into two main branches.
- Anterior tibial artery
- Tibioperoneal trunk (this later divides into two more branches, the posterior tibial artery and the peroneal artery)
These branches are what carry blood to the ankles and feet. That is, all of them receive blood from the popliteal artery, the main character of our story.
Other branches of the popliteal artery
Before dividing into two main branches, this artery divides into several smaller branches that supply blood to the area around the knee. These are the ones that supply the knee joint and the muscles around it.
| Branch Name |
|---|
| Superior lateral genicular artery |
| Superior medial genicular artery |
| Middle genicular artery |
| Sural artery |
| Inferior lateral genicular artery |
| Inferior medial genicular artery |
What happens if this blood vessel is damaged?
Blood flow in the popliteal artery can be obstructed due to various reasons, such as accidents or plaque buildup in the blood vessels. If this happens, your legs and feet will not receive the oxygen and nutrients they need. This is a serious condition. If not treated properly, you can sometimes lose a leg.
Let's look at some of the diseases that affect this artery below.
| Medical condition | Simply put, what happens? |
|---|---|
| Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) | Fatty deposits (plaque) build up inside the arteries in the legs, blocking the arteries. This causes pain in the legs when walking or exercising. |
| Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome | The arteries are narrowed by the muscles around them, which restricts blood flow. This is a condition that often occurs in young athletes. It can be treated with surgery. |
| Popliteal Aneurysm | A balloon-like bulge in the artery. This can cause blood clots. If this becomes large or causes symptoms, surgery may be needed. |
| Adventitial Cystic Disease | A fluid-filled cyst forms in the artery wall. This also obstructs blood flow. You may experience hair-raising pain when walking. This can also be treated with surgery. |
| Hemorrhage | In a serious accident to the knee, this artery can burst and bleed. This condition occurs in about 1 in 5 people who dislocate their knee. This is an emergency. Immediate surgery is needed to create a new path (bypass) around the damaged artery. |
What symptoms should I see a doctor for?
If you have any of the following symptoms, don't ignore them. It's best to see your doctor as soon as possible for advice.
- Non-healing wounds on the leg or foot.
- Pain or difficulty walking.
- Leg swelling for no reason.
- A change in the temperature or color of the leg (e.g., one leg being colder than the other, becoming pale, or turning blue).
- Leg pain even when you are at rest , without doing anything.
How do we keep this artery healthy?
The same things we do to keep our entire body's blood vessels healthy are also good for the popliteal artery. Try to incorporate these habits into your life.
- If you smoke, stop immediately. The same goes for using tobacco products.
- Exercise more days a week.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet . That means eating foods low in cholesterol, fat, and salt.
- Maintain your healthy weight .
- If you have diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure , control them well.
What is the difference between the popliteal artery and the popliteal vein?
Although both of these are blood vessels that run behind the knee, their function is completely different. It's like the outward lane and the inward lane on a road.
Popliteal artery: This carries oxygen-rich, clean blood from the heart to the tissues of the legs, much like a pipe that carries clean water from a water tank to a house.
Popliteal Vein: This carries the oxygen-depleted, waste blood that has been used in the tissues back to the heart. Much like the drainpipe that carries used water from a home.
Bend your leg slightly and feel the soft spot behind your knee. That's where your popliteal artery is. It's not visible above the skin like a vein, but it does a lot for the health of your leg from there.
If you have a condition related to this artery, your doctor will explain the treatment and what to expect. Ask him or her any questions you have. Also, let your doctor know if there are any new changes in your symptoms.
Take-Home Message
- The popliteal artery is a major blood vessel that is essential for the health of your knee, lower leg, and foot.
- Things like leg pain when walking, leg swelling, and wounds that don't heal can be warning signs of a problem with this artery.
- Avoiding smoking, exercising, and eating a healthy diet are the best ways to protect this artery.
- If you feel anything unusual in your legs, don't think twice and see your doctor.
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