The sciatic artery is the major arterial supply to the lower
limb bud at an early embryological stage. It primarily
originates from the dorsal root of the umbilical artery. After
the 22 mm embryological stage, the sciatic artery involutes
and the femoral artery system develops as the major inflow
source to the lower limb. In the adult, remnants of the sciatic
artery persist as the proximal portion of the inferior gluteal
artery, the popliteal and peroneal arteries (Williams et al.
1989). It is suggested that either failure in development of
the femoral system or failure in regression of the sciatic
artery results in persistence of this artery (Arey, 1965). We
report a rare example of persistent sciatic artery (PSA)
accompanied by arterio-arterial and arteriovenous
anastomoses.