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Superior lateral genicular artery

The superior lateral genicular artery is one of the important branches of the popliteal artery. It arises in the popliteal fossa and courses laterally around the femur to participate in the rich genicular anastomosis supplying the knee joint. This artery plays a critical role in collateral circulation around the knee, particularly during knee flexion when the popliteal artery may be compressed.

Synonyms

  • Superior external articular artery

  • Superior lateral articular artery

Origin, Course, and Branches

  • Origin: Arises from the popliteal artery in the popliteal fossa, usually above the knee joint line

  • Course:

    • Runs laterally above the lateral femoral condyle

    • Passes deep to the biceps femoris tendon

    • Courses anteriorly around the distal femur, toward the knee joint capsule

    • Joins the peripatellar anastomotic network around the patella

  • Branches:

    • Articular branches to the knee joint capsule

    • Muscular branches to adjacent structures (biceps femoris, vastus lateralis)

    • Anastomotic branches forming part of the genicular arterial network with:

      • Superior medial genicular artery

      • Inferior genicular arteries

      • Descending genicular artery

      • Descending branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery

      • Anterior tibial recurrent artery

Relations

  • Anteriorly: Lateral femoral condyle and capsule of the knee joint

  • Posteriorly: Popliteal artery and vein in the popliteal fossa

  • Superiorly: Vastus lateralis muscle

  • Inferiorly: Lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle

  • Laterally: Biceps femoris tendon

  • Medially: Popliteal artery at its origin

Function

  • Provides arterial supply to the lateral aspect of the knee joint capsule, synovium, and ligaments

  • Contributes to the periarticular genicular anastomosis

  • Plays a role in collateral circulation when the popliteal artery is compressed during flexion

Clinical Significance

  • May be visualized and preserved in orthopedic surgery (e.g., total knee arthroplasty)

  • Can be a source of bleeding in trauma or iatrogenic injury during knee procedures

  • Important in vascular grafting and flap surgeries

  • Enlarged or tortuous in collateral circulation of peripheral artery disease

  • Involved in genicular artery embolization for treatment of chronic knee pain

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Vessel wall appears as low signal

  • Flowing blood shows a signal void (black lumen)

T2-weighted images:

  • Lumen shows flow void with low signal intensity

  • Vessel wall is thin and low signal

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Vessel wall remains dark

  • Surrounding edema or inflammation (if present) appears bright

T1 Fat-Sat Post-Contrast (MRA):

  • Artery enhances brightly and uniformly after gadolinium administration

  • Useful for identifying caliber, stenosis, or aneurysm

MRA Appearance

  • Time-of-flight or contrast-enhanced MRA clearly shows the superior lateral genicular artery as a branch from the popliteal artery coursing laterally above the femoral condyle

  • Appears as a bright, linear enhancing vessel

  • Demonstrates anastomotic connections in the peripatellar vascular network

CTA Appearance

Non-Contrast CT:

  • Vessel not well seen, only surrounding fat and bone landmarks identifiable

Post-Contrast CT (CTA):

  • Artery visualized as a brightly enhancing branch of the popliteal artery

  • Seen curving laterally around the femoral condyle

  • Anastomotic network around patella and knee joint capsule becomes clearly defined

  • Useful for mapping in vascular interventions or preoperative planning

MRI image

Superior lateral genicular artery MRI AXIAL cross sectional anatomy 3T MRI AI enhanced radiology anatomy image-img-00000-00000

MRI image

Superior lateral genicular artery MRI coronal cross sectional anatomy 3T MRI AI enhanced radiology anatomy image-img-00000-00000

Superior lateral genicular artery CT CORONAL