Blood vessels of the leg in 3D

Arteries and veins of the lower limb

In the thigh the femoral artery runs through the femoral triangle and the adductor canal, and its circumflex and perforating branches supply the thigh muscles. Genicular arteries from the popliteal artery join in an anastomosis around the knee. The anterior tibial artery passes forward above the interosseous membrane; the posterior tibial artery runs behind the medial malleolus and divides into the medial and lateral plantar arteries, and the lateral one forms the plantar arch.

The great saphenous vein starts at the medial end of the dorsal venous arch, passes in front of the medial malleolus and ends in the femoral vein. Perforating veins connect the superficial and deep systems.

What the 3D model shows

The model shows the arteries and veins of the right lower limb with the skeleton as see-through context. Arteries run from the external and internal iliac arteries through the femoral, lateral circumflex femoral, perforating and popliteal arteries with their genicular branches to the anterior and posterior tibial arteries, the dorsalis pedis, arcuate and plantar arteries and the plantar arch. Veins include the great and small saphenous veins, the femoral, deep femoral, popliteal, tibial and fibular veins, the perforating veins and the dorsal and plantar venous arches. Separate views show the arteries and the veins alone.

How to study the vessels of the leg

Open the arteries view and follow one path from the external iliac artery to the toes, naming the landmark where each vessel changes name: the inguinal ligament, the adductor hiatus, the lower border of popliteus, the ankle. Rotate to the posterior view for the popliteal artery and its genicular branches. In the veins view, trace the great saphenous vein up the medial side and the small saphenous vein up the back of the calf. Then show both systems together and pair each deep vein with its artery.