19

Int. J. Morphol.,
33(1):19-23, 2015.

A  Segmental  Hypoplastic  Anterior  Tibial  Artery  Coexisting
with  a  Hypertrophied  Perforating  Fibular  Artery  a  Case

Report  and  Clinical  Implications

Coexistencia  de  una  Arteria  Tibial  Anterior  Hipoplásica  Segmentaria  con  una
Arteria  Fibular  Perforante  Hipertrofiada.  Reporte  de  Caso  e  Implicancias  Clínicas

Olutayo Ariyo*

ARIYO, O. A segmental hypoplastic anterior tibial artery coexisting with an hypertrophied perforating fibular artery a case report and
clinical implications. Int. J. Morphol., 33(1):19-23, 2015.

SUMMARY: Vascular injuries of the lower limb, especially from penetrating gunshot wounds, and peripheral arterial diseases
are on the increase and management of these and many other lower limb injuries involve increasing usage of vascular interventions like
by-pass surgery, per-cutaneous transluminal angioplasty, arterial cannulation, arterial bypass graft or minimally invasive measures like
percutaneous trans-arterial catheterization, among others. A thorough knowledge of infrapopliteal branching most especially their pathways
and luminal diameters are important to surgeons in selecting appropriate surgical interventions or procedures. We report the case in
which one of the 3 terminal branches of the popliteal artery (PPA), the anterior tibial artery (ATA) of good caliber size at origin became
hypoplastic in the anterior leg region after giving off numerous muscular branches. Continuing as an almost attenuated dorsalis pedis
artery (aDPA) in the dorsum of the foot, the latter was reinforced by an enlarged hypertrophied fibular artery. This case illustrates yet the
importance of the fibular artery as the dominant of the 3 infrapopliteal branching arteries, reinforcing or replacing the posterior tibial
artery (PTA) when it is weak or absent by a strong communicating branch or, reinforcing a weak ATA and dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) by
a strong perforating fibular artery as being reported. The PTA however travelled a normal course yielding the medial and lateral plantar
arteries posterior to the abductor hallucis muscle. This case demonstrates the importance of collateral communications and reinforcements
from other infrapopliteal arteries, whenever one of its members or subsequent branches are absent or hypoplastic. A very sound knowledge
of the various branching patterns of the PPA can be gained via pre-operatively vascular angiography, designed to guide the surgeon in the
selection of appropriate surgical interventions, adding value to patients care in helping to reduce iatrogenic surgical vascular complications
and reduction in total number of limb loss.

KEY WORDS: Segmental hypoplastic anterior tibial artery; Attenuated dorsalis pedis artery; Hypertrophied fibular
artery; Infrapopliteal branching.

INTRODUCTION

The popliteal artery is the continuation of the femoral
artery beginning from the adductor hiatus. The artery des-
cended laterally, crosses the popliteal fossa ending at the
distal border of the popliteus where it divides to give the 3
infrapopliteal terminal branches, the anterior tibial artery
(ATA), the posterior tibial/peroneal trunk (PTPT), the latter
in turn gives rise to the peroneal artery about 2.5 cm distal
to the ATA. The latter runs in the fibrous canal between the
tibialis posterior muscle and the flexor hallucis longus.
Embryologically, the sciatic artery is the embryonic vessels
that supply the lower limbs. Arising from the dorsal root of
the umbilical artery, the sciatic runs through the thigh, knee
and leg, lying between the tibia and popliteus. A perforating

branch that communicates with the femoral artery arises from
the distal border of popliteus. This branch called ramus
communicans passes ventrally between fibular and the tibia
to form the anterior tibial artery (Ali & Mohajir, 1996;
Brantley et al., 1983). Persistent primitive arteria (PPA);
segments, abnormal fusions, segmental hypoplasia or the
absence of these arteries gave rise to anatomic variability.
Variations in the pattern of the PPA revolve around the “high
division” of that trunk (Keen, 1961) and the resulting
differences in the arrangements of its terminal branches. The
frequency of occurrence of “high division” of the popliteal
artery are 4.4% (Poirier & Charpy, 1899), about 5% (Trotter,
1940), 2.5% (Adachi, 1928), while Keen found 14 times in

* Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.



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280 limbs corresponding to 5%. Trifurcation, is a popliteal
arterial pattern where all the 3 arteries may arise from the
termination of the popliteal at exactly the same level or as
long as the point of origin of the peroneal artery is 5 mm or
less from the main bifurcation (Adachi). Sometimes the PPA
splits into 2 trunks, an ATA/Peroneal (Fibular) and posterior
tibia trunk (PTT). Infrapopliteal collaterals do exist between
the branches of the 3 major infrapopliteal arteries that do
communicate to give vascular supply when one of these
branches are weak or absent. Such collaterals exist between
the PA and the ATA via the perforating fibular artery, between
the peroneal and PTA via a communicating branch.

CASE REPORT

During routine academic anatomic dissection at
Thomas Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson
University dissecting facilities, a very careful review of a
pre-dissected lower limb by the undergraduate medical
students, we observed that in the popliteal fossa, the
infrapopliteal vessels were seen to be normal, yielding an
initial 2 trunks, a lateral one, which was the trunk to the
ATA, and a medial one, the posterior tibial and peroneal
trunk (PTPT) which branched shortly to give the (PTA)

Fig. 2. This image shows the anterior tibial
artery travelling with the deep fibular nerve
in the extensor compartment of the leg. The
anterior tibial artery was of a good size
proximally, but as it journeys inferiorly, it
gives several muscular branches, becoming
very hypoplastic. ATA= anterior tibial artery,
DFN= deep fibular nerve. hATA= hypoplastic
anterior tibial artery.

Fig. 1. This image shows the popliteal artery dividing
to give it’s terminal 3 branches, the anterior tibial,
and common posterior tibial peroneal trunk which
later divided to give fibular/peroneal artery and pos-
terior tibia artery. At origin, all 3 vessels including
the anterior tibial artery tend to be of good caliber
size. PPA= popliteal artery, ATA= anterior tibial artery,
PTPT= posterior tibial-peroneal trunk, FA/PA= fibular/
(peroneal) artery, PTA= posterior tibial artery.

and the PA (Fig. 1). Both the
PTA and PA travelled normally
in the posterior leg, the PTA
travelled with the tibial nerve
and distally bifurcated posterior
to abductor halluces giving the
lateral and medial plantar
arteries. The ATA however gave
several robust muscular
branches, became hypoplastic
and on the dorsum of the foot.
An hypertrophied perforating
fibular artery was observed
going through the intermuscular
membrane to reach the dorsum
of the foot (Fig. 2).

We observed the
popliteal artery (PPA) ending
normally at about the distal
border of the popliteus muscle,
where it divided to give the ATA
and a PTPT, and at 2.5 cm distal
to the ATA, this trunk bifurcated
yielding an PA laterally and the
PTA medially. None of the
immediate branches of the
popliteal artery, ATA, PTA and
PA at origin was hypoplastic
(Fig. 1). The ATA was of a good
caliber size at origin (about 2.6
mm in diameter), passes through
the oval aperture in the proximal
part of the interosseous
membrane to reach the extensor
compartment where we observed
the ATA supplying very
prominent muscular branches to
muscles in the anterior leg
compartment (Fig. 2).

ARIYO, O. A segmental hypoplastic anterior tibial artery coexisting with an hypertrophied perforating fibular artery a case report and clinical implications. Int. J. Morphol., 33(1):19-23, 2015.



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Following the giving off of the muscular branches,
the ATA became progressively smaller becoming more and
more hypoplastic (Fig. 2), and by the time it crossed the
ankle joint, it has become very attenuated and continued as
an almost aplastic dorsalis pedis artery (aDPA) (Fig. 2). On
the dorsum of the foot, we observed an hypertrophied
perforating fibular artery (HPFA) traversing the interosseous
membrane to enter the extensor compartment. The HPFA
divided into medial and lateral branches (Fig. 3). The medial
branch was the replacement vessel for the DPA while the
lateral branch was joined by a small twig from the aDPA
both skirting regions normally supplied by the arcuate
arteries and its branches (Fig. 3). In the extensor compartment
of the leg, we did not observe any muscular abnormalities,
and no evidence of wasting or hypertrophy of muscles
located on the dorsum of the foot and no evidence of
hypertrophy, The deep fibular nerve (DFN) maintained the

same relationship with the ATA, travelling together anterior
to the interosseus membrane, The PTA branching pattern
was observed normal, bifurcating posterior to the abductor
hallucis to give the medial and lateral plantar arteries. Neither
of the plantar arteries was abnormal in size as observed
visually even though the lateral plantar was observed bigger
and was the main participant of the deep plantar arch,
receiving a communicating branch from the HPFA. The PPA
and its infra popliteal branching patterns in the R lower limb
were normal.

DISCUSSION

Reported variants of the popliteal artery are many.
The artery may divide into its terminal branches proximal
to popliteus in which case the (ATA) sometimes descend
anterior to the muscle. The size of the peroneal artery is
said to be usually inversely related to the size of the ante-
rior and posterior tibial arteries, either of which function
the PA may assume (Standring, 2008). Variations in the
pattern of the PPA revolve around the high division of that
trunk. This high division was described as “at a level above
the middle of the posterior surface of the popliteus muscle”
(Adachi). Another variant of the popliteal artery pattern is
“trifurcation”. In the latter all the 3 terminal branches arise
together at the inferior border of the popliteus muscle. Keen
reported observing a trifurcation of the PPA in 12 of
dissected yielding an incidence rate of 4.3%, 4.4% (Poirier
& Charpy), 5.5% (Trotter), 2.8% (Adachi). Kropman et
al. (2011) reported that the 3 most frequent variations in
branching of the popliteal artery are a high origin of the
ATA, the trifurcation of the PPA and a hypoplastic or
aplastic PTA. Some reported important characteristics of
the ATA are as follows: (A-F) (A). The greatest diameter
of the ATA was characteristics of the trifurcation pattern
(Dobbs et al., 2004). B) Of the of the three calf arteries,
the ATA was the predominant vessel in a trifurcation and
in subtypes with anterior tibioperoneal trunk (Lippert &
Pabst, 1985; Kim et al., 1989). C). An association has been
found between ATA and bony malformations of the lower
limbs (Hootnick et al., 1984). Hootnick et al., also
concluded that in limbs that contain the remnant of a
missing structure, that injury occurred after the
mesenchyme was instructed to form that structure Such
abnormalities are termed “post-specification” defects, these
being in contrast to those described as “pre-specification”
malformations, of which a duplicated artery is an example
of the latter, where the injury affected the signal before
the instruction of the mesenchyme to develop into a specific
structure was completed. (D). The luminal diameter of the
ATA is the most important determination of the patency

Fig. 3. This image shows the hypoplastic anterior tibial artery
crossing the ankle joint, and becoming an attenuated dorsalis pedis
artery in the foot. An enlarged/hypertrophied perforating fibular
artery is observed emanating from the interosseus membrane and
serves as the replaced dorsalis pedis artery in the dorsum of the
foot. hATA= hypoplastic anterior tibial artery, aDPA= attenuated dorsalis
pedis artery, HPFA= perforating fibular artery, rDPA= reinforcing dorsalis
pedis artery, EDB= extensor digitorum brevis.

ARIYO, O. A segmental hypoplastic anterior tibial artery coexisting with an hypertrophied perforating fibular artery a case report and clinical implications. Int. J. Morphol., 33(1):19-23, 2015.



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rate in anterior femorotibial graft (Karmody et al., 1984;
Kremen et al., 1986). E). The luminal diameters of the
ATA closely correlated with the percentage of the three-
year patency rate for bypass (Karmody et al.; Kremen et
al.) and the cumulative limsalvage (Karmody et al.). F)
Popliteal arterial variants and the normative data for ATA
are important in vascular surgery below the knee following
an angiographic study of the ATA in patients with aortoiliac
occlusive disease (Szpinda, 2005). It has been reported
that on variant patterns of the foot, the most common
variant was that in which supply to the distal PTA arose
from the peroneal artery. Atanasova et al. (2011) also
reported the case of an hypoplastic ATA, ending above the
ankle joint and was replaced distally by a large branch
from the PTA the latter crossing the lowest portion of
interosseous membrane. In the case being reported, an
attenuated DPA, a distal vessel from an hypoplastic ATA
was reinforced by an hypertrophied perforating fibular
artery The fibular artery represents a significant
contributory vessel to the foot. A segmental hypoplastic.
ATA is a very rare infrapopliteal variant, and its occurrence
no doubt supports the hypothesis by Lohan et al. (2008),
that trifurcation vessel imaging should be a prerequisite to
fibular free flap harvesting.

Variation in DPA. Palpation of the DPA is essential,
particularly in suspected cases of arterial disorders. The
DPA is also subjected to variations. Tuncel et al. (1994)
reported the case of a bilateral anomalous origin for dorsalis

pedis arteries originating from the fibular arteries because
of the hypoplastic nature of both anterior tibial arteries.
The artery is recognized to play an important role in the
microvascular surgery of the foot during replantation,
reconstructions and repair due to its unique anatomical
position and bountiful supply to the foot (Vijayalakshmi
et al., 2011). A good knowledge of the infrapopliteal
variants and their branching patterns are critical in assisting
vascular, orthopedic and plastic surgeons in making well
informed decisions before embarking on any surgical
interventions in the lower limb. Pre-operative MR
angiographic study of infrapopliteal vessels and its
branches will assist in revealing the presence of any
existing malformations that may have important bearing
on the choice of appropriate surgical procedures.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author would like to thank the giver of this body
for her generosity, even after death continues to give
contributions to human knowledge. Thanks to the medical
students who made an initial partial dissection on the cadaver,
the friendly and scholarly environment provided by the
various authorities of the Department of Pathology, Anatomy
and Cell Biology. The tireless efforts of David and Karen of
the Medical Media Unit in taking the photographs are
appreciated.

ARIYO, O. Coexistencia de una arteria tibial anterior hipoplásica segmentaria con una arteria fibular perforante hipertrofiada.
Reporte de caso e implicacias clínicas. Int. J. Morphol., 33(1):19-23, 2015.

RESUMEN: Las lesiones vasculares de los miembros inferiores, especialmente las heridas penetrantes por arma de fuego y
enfermedades arteriales periféricas, están en aumento. Su manejo, así como el de otras lesiones en los miembros inferiores, implican
un mayor uso de intervenciones vasculares como la cirugía de by-pass, angioplastía transluminal percutánea, canulación arterial,
injerto de derivación arterial o medidas mínimamente invasivas como el cateterismo transarterial percutáneo, entre otros. El conoci-
miento profundo de las ramificaciones infrapoplíteas, muy especialmente sus vías y diámetros luminales son importantes para los
cirujanos en la selección de las intervenciones o procedimientos quirúrgicos apropiados. Presentamos un caso en el cual, una de las
3 ramas terminales de la arteria poplítea (APP), la arteria tibial anterior (ATA), de buen calibre en su origen se hizo hipoplásica en la
región anterior de la pierna después de un desprendimiento de numerosas ramas musculares. Continuó como una arteria dorsal del
pie (ADP) casi atenuada en el dorso del pie; esta última se vio reforzada por una amplia arteria fibular hipertrofiada. Este caso ilustra
la importancia de la arteria fibular como dominante de las 3 ramificaciones de las arterias infrapoplíteas, un refuerzo o sustitución de
la arteria tibial posterior (ATP) cuando es débil o está ausente, por una fuerte rama comunicante, o bien refuerzo de una débil ATA y
ADP por una fuerte arteria fibular perforante como en el caso reportado. La ATP sin embargo tenía un trayecto con un curso normal
generando las arterias plantares medial y lateral, posterior al músculo abductor del hállux. Este caso demuestra la importancia de las
comunicaciones colaterales y refuerzos de otras arterias infrapoplíteas, cada vez que uno de sus componentes o ramas posteriores
están ausentes o hipoplásicas. Un conocimiento detallado de los diferentes patrones de ramificación de la APP puede ser adquirido a
través de una angiografía vascular previo a la cirugía, diseñada para guiar al cirujano en la selección de las intervenciones quirúr gicas
adecuadas, agrega valor a la atención de los pacientes, ayuda a disminuir las complicaciones vasculares quirúrgicas iatrogénicas y
reduce el número total de pérdidas de miembros inferiores.

PALABRAS CLAVE: Arteria tibial anterior hipoplásica segmentaria; Arteria dorsal del pie atenuada; Arteria fibular
hipertrofiada; Ramificación infrapoplítea.

ARIYO, O. A segmental hypoplastic anterior tibial artery coexisting with an hypertrophied perforating fibular artery a case report and clinical implications. Int. J. Morphol., 33(1):19-23, 2015.



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Correspondence to:
Olutayo Ariyo, MBBS, MBA
Thomas Jefferson Medical College
Thomas Jefferson University
Rm 263 F, JAH, 1020 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19050
USA
 
 
Email: olutayo.ariyo@jefferson.edu
 

Received: 03-05-2014
Accepted: 24-10-2014
 

ARIYO, O. A segmental hypoplastic anterior tibial artery coexisting with an hypertrophied perforating fibular artery a case report and clinical implications. Int. J. Morphol., 33(1):19-23, 2015.