The superior medial genicular artery (SMGA) is the medial counterpart of the superior lateral genicular artery and participates in the supply of the superomedial structures of the knee and the vascularization of the patella.
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Summary
- location: knee
- origin: popliteal artery
- branches: anterior and posterior branch
- supply: superomedial aspect of the knee
Gross anatomy
The superior medial genicular artery is the smallest of the genicular arteries and might be absent in up to 15% of cases 1. It originates from the popliteal artery approximately 4 cm above the medial condyle of the knee 2 and courses medially above and posterior to the medial femoral condyle anterior to the semimembranosus and semitendinosus tendons and beneath the tendon of the adductor magnus. Its size is often inversely related to the descending genicular artery. It usually splits into two major branches one supplying the vastus medialis muscle, the patella and the skin and the other one the femoral condyle in about 70% of the individuals 2.
Branches
The superior medial genicular artery splits into two branches and cutaneous perforating branches 2:
- anterior or superficial branch
- posterior or deep branch
It anastomoses with the following arteries 1,2:
- descending genicular artery
- inferior medial genicular artery
- superior lateral genicular artery
- descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery
Supply
The superior lateral genicular artery participates in the supply of the following structures 1,2:
- medial gastrocnemius muscle head
- vastus medialis muscle
- semimembranosus muscle
- semitendinosus muscle
- patella and quadriceps tendon
- medial femoral condyle
Clinical importance
The superior medial genicular artery can be injured within the scope of knee surgery such as total knee arthroplasty or reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament 4-6.
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