The lower leg arteries
Anterior and posterior tibial arteries · arteriae tibiales
The arteries that supply the front and back of the lower leg and the foot.
What it does
Below the knee the popliteal artery divides. The anterior tibial artery passes forward to the front of the leg and becomes the artery on top of the foot. The posterior tibial artery runs down the calf and behind the inner ankle into the sole.
Surprising fact
You can feel the posterior tibial pulse just behind and below the bony bump on the inside of your ankle.
Why it matters
Checking the ankle and foot pulses is a quick way to judge circulation in the legs, especially in people with diabetes.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.