It carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery.

[1] It originates at the distal end of the popliteus muscle posterior to the tibia.

The artery then descends between the tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus muscles.

It is accompanied by the anterior tibial vein, and the deep peroneal nerve, along its course.

It crosses the anterior aspect of the ankle joint, at which point it becomes the dorsalis pedis artery.