Aim: The orthopedic surgeons, especially those who are specialized in arthroplasty, should be conversant with all the anatomic variations of the popliteal bothrium. After a wide research we present our conclusions about the variations of the popliteal bothrium.

Material-method: The study was carried out in the Anatomic Laboratory of Athens Medical University during the last 16 years and for our purpose we dissected 110 cadavers (220 legs).

Results: The length of the popliteal artery, from the major adductor foramen to the division into anterior and posterior tibial artery, is 4–9 cm. We have classified the observed variations into two groups, according to whether the division is below or above the level of the popliteal muscle:

1. below the level of the popliteal muscle (194/220)

A. The division occurs after the origin of the peroneal artery (172/220)

B. The peroneal artery arises at the level of the division (16/220)

C. The popliteal artery divides into posterior tibial and peroneal artery, while the anterior tibial artery arises from the peroneal (6/220)

2. above the level of the popliteal muscle (26/220)

A. The peroneal artery arises from the posterior tibial artery (10/220)

B. The peroneal artery arises from the posterior tibial artery, while the anterior tibial artery runs in front of the popliteal muscle (8/220)

C. The peroneal artery arises from the anterior tibial artery (8/220)

During our research we studied the vessels of the leg and especially the anatomic variations of the tibial, peroneal and pedis arteries. The orthopedic surgeons, especially those who are specialized in operant radiology and angiography, should be conversant with all the anatomic variations of the vessels, running below the popliteal level. Our research was carried out in the Anatomic Laboratory of Athens University and we dissected 100 cadavers. We had great difficulties in describing the arteries, which run below the level of the popliteal bothrium. We have agreed in regarding the peroneal artery as the basic one, because it substitutes for the tibial artery when the last one is missing. When the anterior tibial is missing, the dorsalis pedis arises from the peroneal artery. In a same way, when the posterior tibial is missing, the pedis arteries arise from the peroneal artery. Very interesting is the variability of the branch, which supplies the tibial bone. In 50% of the cases this branch arises from the posterior tibial-peroneal trunk or from the posterior and anterior tibial artery or rarely from the peroneal and popliteal artery. The origin of the branch, which supplies the tibial bone, can affect the morphology of the bone (the correspondent foramen of the tibial bone).

The variations can be classified in the following way:

The typical anatomic knowledge: The peroneal artery gives an anastomosis branch to the posterior tibial artery and a perforating branch to the anterior tibial artery (85%)