Persistence of the axis artery of the lower limb.

Abstract

AbstractThree negro cadavers examined during routine dissection showed remnants of the axis artery acting as important adult arterial routes through the lower extremity. In two of the three cases, the anomalous condition involved persistent ischiatic portions of the axis artery continued into the genicular region as the popliteal artery. In these cases, the function of the much reduced femoral artery was assumed by an over‐developed profunda femoris artery which, with its perforating branches, then entered the persistent ischiatic artery to give rise to the popliteal.In one of these cases, the infragenicular circulatory pattern was completely typical.In two of the three cases, one of which is included above, the anomalous condition of the axis artery involved the infragenicular circulatory pattern. In these, two anomalous conditions were obvious: (1) the peroneal artery rather than the anterior tibial, which was incomplete distally, carried the blood supply to the dorsalis pedis artery, and (2) the peroneal artery, by virtue of its position relative to the tibialis posterior muscle, represented the old interosseous part of the axis artery distal to the ramus communicans medius rather than the more recently developed superficial peroneal artery.The sequence of embryonic development of the arterial supply of the lower extremity is presented along with comments as to the cause and time of origin of the anomalous conditions presented herein.