Arterial Supply - Lower Limb

Question 1

Femoral artery

Answer 1

Continuation of external iliac artery (when it crosses under inguinal ligament)
Gives rise to profunda femoris artery
Supplies anterior thigh muscles
Known as popliteal artery after the adductor hiatus

Question 2

Profunda femoris artery

Answer 2

• Perforating branches - 3/4 arteries that perforate the adductor magnus, contributes to supply of muscles in medial and posterior thigh
• Lateral femoral circumflex artery - wraps around anterior, lateral side of femur, supplies some muscles in lateral thigh
• Medial femoral circumflex artery - wraps around the posterior side of femur, supplies head and neck of femur, easily damaged in NOF fracture -> avascular necrosis

Question 3

Accessing the femoral artery

Answer 3

Superficial in the femoral triangle
Suitable for coronary angiography - catheterisation with a long, thin tube
Femoral artery -> external iliac -> common iliac -> aorta -> coronary vessels
Radioactive dye injected into coronary vessels to show thickening/blockages via x-ray
Femoral artery also used for arterial blood gases

Question 4

Obturator artery

Answer 4

Arises from internal iliac
Descends via obturator canal to medial thigh
Bifurcates into anterior/posterior branches
Anterior branch - supplies pectineus, obturator externus, adductor muscles + gracilis
Posterior branch - supplies some deep gluteal muscles

Question 5

Gluteal arteries

Answer 5

Superior/inferior gluteal arteries
Supply gluteal region
Arise from external iliac artery
Inferior contributes to posterior thigh too

Question 6

Popliteal artery

Answer 6

Arises from the femoral artery
Gives off genicular branches that supply the knee joint
Divides into anterior and posterior tibial arteries

Question 7

Posterior tibial artery

Answer 7

Accompanies the tibial nerve
Enters foot via tarsal tunnel
Gives rise to fibular artery

Question 8

Fibular artery

Answer 8

Supplies muscles in lateral leg and adjacent muscles in posterior leg

Question 9

Anterior tibial artery

Answer 9

Becomes the dorsalis pedis artery in the foot

Question 10

Popliteal aneurysm

Answer 10

Fascia in popliteal fossa is tough and non-extensible
An aneurysm causes consequences for the rest of the contents of the popliteal fossa
Tibial nerve can be compressed -> leg anaesthesia/loss of leg motor function
Detected by obvious palpable pulsation in popliteal fossa with abnormal arterial sounds

Question 11

Dorsalis pedis artery

Answer 11

Continuation of anterior tibial artery
Anastomoses with lateral plantar artery -> deep plantar arch
Supplies tarsal bones and dorsal aspect of metatarsals
Also contributes to supply of toes via deep plantar arch

Question 12

Posterior tibial artery

Answer 12

Splits into medial/lateral plantar arteries
Supply the plantar side of the foot
Contributes to toe supply via deep plantar arch

Question 13

Pulse points

Answer 13

• Femoral pulse - mid-inguinal point (midway between anterior superior iliac spine and pubis synthesis)
• Popliteal artery - requires deep palpation, easier if leg slightly flexed -> relaxes fascia
• Dorsalis pedis pulse - dorsum of foot, just lateral to extensor hallucis longus tendon