Left popliteal artery

Looks like

The continuation of the femoral artery, lying deep in the hollow behind the knee against the bone and joint capsule.

What it does

Supplies the knee and splits below it into the arteries of the lower leg and foot.

Keeping it well

Knee dislocation can tear it — a cold, pulseless foot is an emergency. It is the commonest site of aneurysm outside the belly.

Related conditions

• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Erectile dysfunction
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Restless legs syndrome
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Varicose veins
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)