Lower leg arteries. Historical illustration of the arteries and muscles of the lower leg. The arteries are coloured red to show that they supply oxygenated blood. At left, the musculature is largely undisturbed and part of the popliteal artery is seen descending down the leg. At lower left, part of the posterior tibial artery is seen descending to the foot. The diagram at right has the superficial muscles removed to show these and other arteries forming the arterial network of the lower leg. Colour lithograph by Fairland from The Vessels of the Human Body, 1837. Based on drawings by J. Swandale.