Circumflex Fibular Artery, Lateral View

Description

Arising from the proximal fibular (peroneal) artery in the posterior compartment of the leg, the circumflex fibular artery curves laterally around the neck of the fibula, passing from a posterior position toward the anterolateral aspect of the proximal leg. Along its course it sits inferior to the lateral femoral condyle and close to the proximal tibiofibular joint, with the fibular head and neck acting as the main osseous landmarks. The popliteal artery occupies the posterior aspect of the knee region proximally, while paired venae comitantes and adjacent superficial veins run alongside the arterial branches in blue. Lateral projection around the fibular neck matters because this is a corridor shared by vessels and vulnerable neurovascular structures. The circumflex fibular artery participates in periarticular genicular anastomoses and can become a bleeding source during lateral approaches to the knee, proximal tibiofibular joint procedures, or fixation around the fibular head. One wrong plane. Injury risk rises further when dissection strays posteriorly toward the popliteal fossa or when hardware is placed near the fibular neck where small arterial branches can be avulsed. Orthopaedic and sports medicine teaching often needs a clear map of the vascular anatomy at the lateral knee, including the relationship between the popliteal system, fibular artery branches, and their accompanying veins for surgical planning and complication avoidance. Use this artwork in operative anatomy atlases, journal figures on proximal fibula fractures or knee ligament reconstruction, and educational materials on collateral circulation around the knee and implications for bypass grafting or angiographic interpretation. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.