3 Vasculature of lower limb

Question 1

What are the superior and inferior gluteal arteries branches of, and where do they branch off?

Answer 1

Internal iliac arteries.

Above and below piriformis.

Question 2

Which artery supplies the anterior compartment of the thigh?

Branch of?

Answer 2

Femoral.

External iliac.

Question 3

Which arteries supply the posterior compartment of the thigh?

Answer 3

Perforating arteries + profunda femoris.

Question 4

Which artery supplies the medial compartment?

Branch of?

Answer 4

Obturator artery.

Internal iliac.

Question 5

Which anastomosis maintains blood supply during knee flexion?

Answer 5

Geniculate anastomosis.

Question 6

Which arteries supply the anterior and posterior compartments of the leg?
Branch of?

Answer 6

Anterior and posterior tibial artery.

Popliteal artery.

Question 7

Which artery supplies the lateral compartment of the leg?

Branch of?

Answer 7

Fibular artery.

Posterior tibial artery.

Question 8

What is the arterial supply of the foot?

Answer 8

Dorsal: dorsalis pedis (cont of ant tibial).
Plantar: med + lat plantar arteries (cont of post tibial).

Question 9

What makes up the deep plantar arch of the foot?

Answer 9

Deep plantar arch of dorsals pedis artery and lateral plantar artery.

Question 10

Where is the posterior tibial artery palpated?

Answer 10

Behind the medial malleolus.

Question 11

What is the femoral artery an access point for? (2).

Answer 11

Minimally invasive procedures.

ABG in those with poor peripheral perfusion.

Question 12

What are the 6 P’s of acute ischaemia?

Answer 12

Pain.
Pallor.
Perishingly cold.
Pulseless.
Paraesthesia.
Paralysis.

Question 13

What are the superficial veins of the lower limb?

Answer 13

Great and short saphenous veins.

Question 14

What is the function of perforating veins?

Answer 14

Drain blood from superficial veins to deep veins.

Question 15

Where does the great saphenous vein lie?

What is it used for?

Answer 15

In front of the medial malleolus.

Emergency IV access.

Question 16

What are varicose veins?

Complications? (3).

Answer 16

Increased saphenous vein kPa: dilate + incompetence.

Bleeding, superficial thrombophlebitis, venous ulcers.

Question 17

What are the root values of the lumbar and sacral plexi?

Answer 17

Lumbar: L1-4
Sacral: L4-S5

Question 18

What does the femoral nerve supply?

Root values?

Answer 18

Anterior thigh.

L2-4.

Question 19

What does the obturator nerve supply?
Where does division occur?
Root values?

Answer 19

Medial compartment of thigh.
Either side of adductor brevis.
L2-4.

Question 20

Where does the sciatic nerve divide?
What does it supply?
Root values?

Answer 20

Distal thigh.
Posterior thigh, all of leg and foot.
L4-S3.

Question 21

Where is the only safe site for IM injections in the buttock?

Answer 21

Superolateral quadrant.

Question 22

Where does the common fibular nerve supply?

Answer 22

Superficial branch - lateral leg compartment.

Deep branch - anterior leg compartment.

Question 23

Where is the common fibular nerve vulnerable?

Effect of damage?

Answer 23

Winding round neck of fibular.

Dorsiflexor muscle paralysis - foot drop + altered gait.

Question 24

What does the tibial nerve supply?

Answer 24

Posterior compartment of the leg.

Question 25

What does the tibial nerve divide into?

Answer 25

Medial plantar - skin to medial 3.5, 4 muscles.

Lateral plantar - all other muscles, skin to lateral 1.5.