Fibular Artery Flashcards

Examine the fibular artery's origin, deep posterior course, muscular relations, branches, collateral circulation, and clinical anatomy.

Card 1 of 26Question

What is the fibular artery?

A major artery of the deep posterior compartment of the leg that supplies the fibula and adjacent muscles.

In This Section

1. What is the fibular artery?

A major artery of the deep posterior compartment of the leg that supplies the fibula and adjacent muscles.

2. What is another anatomical name for the fibular artery?

The peroneal artery.

3. From which artery does the fibular artery usually arise?

The posterior tibial artery.

4. Where does the fibular artery typically originate?

Approximately 2.5 cm distal to the inferior border of the popliteus muscle.

5. Which compartment of the leg contains the fibular artery?

The deep posterior compartment.

6. What is the general course of the fibular artery?

It descends along the medial aspect of the fibula toward the posterolateral ankle.

7. Which muscle lies posterior to the fibular artery along much of its course?

The flexor hallucis longus muscle.

8. Which muscle lies medial to the fibular artery in the proximal leg?

The tibialis posterior muscle.

9. Which bone lies lateral to the fibular artery?

The fibula.

10. Which veins accompany the fibular artery?

The paired fibular veins, also called peroneal venae comitantes.

11. Which nerve travels in the same deep posterior compartment as the fibular artery?

The tibial nerve, which accompanies the posterior tibial neurovascular bundle more closely.

12. What are the principal branches of the fibular artery?

Muscular, nutrient, perforating, communicating, and lateral calcaneal branches.

13. Which muscles receive branches from the fibular artery?

Flexor hallucis longus, soleus, tibialis posterior, and the fibularis muscles.

14. Which branch of the fibular artery enters the nutrient foramen of the fibula?

The nutrient artery of the fibula.

15. What is the principal function of the nutrient artery of the fibula?

To supply the medullary cavity and inner cortical bone of the fibular shaft.

16. What is the perforating branch of the fibular artery?

A distal branch that passes through the interosseous membrane to reach the anterior ankle.

17. Where does the perforating branch typically pierce the interosseous membrane?

Near the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, several centimeters proximal to the ankle joint.

18. Which arterial network receives contributions from the perforating branch of the fibular artery?

The lateral malleolar arterial network.

19. What is the communicating branch of the fibular artery?

A distal branch that connects the fibular artery with the posterior tibial artery.

20. Which branches of the fibular artery supply the lateral heel?

The lateral calcaneal branches.

21. Which artery joins fibular artery branches in the calcaneal arterial network?

The posterior tibial artery through its medial calcaneal branches.

22. How does the fibular artery contribute to collateral circulation around the ankle?

Its perforating, communicating, and calcaneal branches anastomose with tibial arterial branches.

23. What is the usual terminal distribution of the fibular artery?

Its distal branches supply the posterolateral ankle and lateral calcaneal region.

24. What is a peronea arteria magna?

A vascular variation in which an enlarged fibular artery provides substantial or dominant arterial supply to the foot.

25. Why is the fibular artery important in vascularized fibular bone grafting?

It supplies the fibula through nutrient and periosteal branches that can be preserved with the graft.

26. Why must the fibular artery's anatomical variations be assessed before fibular flap harvesting?

An enlarged fibular artery may provide critical blood flow to the foot, making its removal hazardous.