Purpose:　The　aim　of　this　study　is　to　investigate　the　effects　of　an　arterial　bifurcation　on　the　temperature　distribution　during　microwave　ablation　in　a　muscle-equivalent　phantom.　Methods:　Two　experiments　with　water　flow　rates　of　42.39　mL/min　and　70.79　mL/min　in　the　typical　range　of　blood　flows　in　the　hepatic　artery　of　the　human　body　were　implemented.　Temperature　measurements　inside　the　phantom　were　performed　in　the　plane　of　the　arterial　bifurcation,　in　each　experiment　the　microwave　antenna　was　placed　at　three　different　positions　at　10,　15　and　20　mm　from　the　vessel.　Results:　The　heating　pattern　was　not　symmetrical　around　the　antenna　with　large　temperature　gradients　near　the　blood　vessel　when　the　antenna　was　near　to　the　vessel　(10　mm):　The　higher　the　blood　velocity,　the　smaller　the　heated　area.　The　heating　pattern　was　more　circular　and　symmetrical,　and　the　temperature　contours　with　the　two　given　flow　rates　nearly　coincide　when　the　antenna　was　far　away　from　the　blood　vessel　(20　mm).　The　temperatures　near　the　recirculation　zone　in　the　daughter　arteries　immediately　after　the　bifurcation　hardly　vary　with　blood　velocity.　Conclusion:　These　results　indicate　that　the　flow　rate　in　the　vessel　and　the　distance　between　the　vessel　and　the　antenna　can　significantly　affect　the　heating　pattern　during　thermal　ablation.　The　effect　of　blood　flow　on　ablation　is　negligible　if　the　distance　between　blood　vessel　and　antenna　exceeds　20　mm,　and　vessel　occlusion　can　be　avoided.　The　present　results　can　be　helpful　in　clinical　microwave　ablation　surgical　planning.