| Patellar network | |
|---|---|
 Circumpatellar anastomosis. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | rete patellare, anastomosis patellaris, rete articulare genus |
| TA98 | A12.2.16.041 |
| TA2 | 4707 |
| FMA | 44677 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The patellar network (circulatory anastomosis around the knee-joint, patellar anastomosis, genicular anastomosis, articular vascular network of knee[1] or rete articulare genus[2]) is an intricate network of blood vessels around and above the patella, and on the contiguous ends of the femur and tibia, forming a superficial and a deep plexus.
- The superficial plexus is situated between the fascia and skin around about the patella, and forms three well-defined arches: one, above the upper border of the patella, in the loose connective tissue over the quadriceps femoris; the other two, below the level of the patella, are situated in the fat behind the patellar ligament.
- The deep plexus, which forms a close net-work of vessels, lies on the lower end of the femur and upper end of the tibia around their articular surfaces, and sends numerous offsets into the interior of the joint.
The genicular arteries which form this plexus are the medial inferior and medial superior genicular arteries, the lateral inferior and lateral superior genicular arteries, the descending genicular artery, the descending branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery, and the anterior tibial recurrent artery.
- ^ Stedman (2006). "Articular Vascular Network Of Knee - Medical Dictionary Definition". Stedman's Medical Dictionary. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
- ^ "Rete articulare genus".