branches distributed to joints. Almost any vessel related to a joint will supply articular rami. Most joints receive articular branches from the intramuscular branches of the motor nerves innervating the muscles crossing the joint (see Hilton’s law). At this printing, Nomina Anatomica, however, specifically recognizes only the articular branches of the descending genicular artery, ramus articulares arteriae descendentis genicularis [NA]; supplying the knee joint. Syn: rami articulares [NA], joint branches.