Arteries and veins of the lower extremity Flashcards
Popliteal artery
- When the femoral artery travels through the opening in the adductor magnus and emerges into this space
- ends just inferior to the knee joint as it splits to form the fibular artery and the anterior and posterior tibial artery
popliteal fossa
- the diamond-shaped region at the posterior aspect of the knee
- bounded superiorly by the hamstring tendons on each side, and inferiorly by the lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius
popliteal vein
- this runs along the the popliteal artery and is continuous with the femoral vein
- ends just superior to the knee and then becomes the femoral vein
posterior tibial artery
this is a branch off the popliteal artery
- sometimes appears to be a continuation of the popliteal that then has the anterior tibial artery branching off of it
- this is going to run with the tibial nerve
- supplies the posterior compartment of the leg
- is going to divide into the medial and lateral plantar arteries once past the lateral malleolus
anterior tibial artery
this is a branch of the popliteal artery
- it may appear to come off of the posterior tibial artery
- this will run with the deep fibular nerve
- this supplies the anterior compartment of the leg
- this is going to branch into the dorsal pedis artery on the top of the foot
lateral plantar artery
gives off the plantar arch, which gives off digital arteries to supply the foot and toes.
femoral artery
- an extension of the external iliac artery from the pelvis
- supplies the anterior structures of the thigh
- It is named the femoral artery after it travels deep to the inguinal ligament to enter the leg
- branches in the deep femoral artery
- becomes the popliteal artery after traveling through the adductor hiatus
deep femoral artery
- largest branch of the femoral artery
- runs posteriorly and supplies the muscles of the posterior and medial regions of the thigh
- the medial and lateral circumflex arteries branch from here
Femoral vein
- travels with the femoral artery through the thigh
- carries blood from the lower extremity back to the pelvis
- this becomes the external iliac vein as it passes the inguinal ligament
dorsal pedis artery
- supplies muscles and on the dorsal aspect of the foot
- a continuation of the anterior tibial artery when it crosses the talocrural (ankle) joint
fibular artery
a branch of the posterior tibial artery shortly after it branches from the popliteal artery in the popliteal fossa
- this feeds the lateral portion of the leg
obturator artery
- branches from the internal iliac artery just inferior to the superior gluteal artery
- runs anterolaterally along the ilium.
- runs through the obturator foramen
- gives off branch to the artery to the femoral head.
- supplies the medial thigh muscles and skin
great saphenous vein
- drains into the femoral vein near the hip.
- drains everything that the small saphenous vein doesnt
- runs along the medial side of the lower extremity
superior gluteal artery
leave the greater sciatic foramen superior to the piriformis muscle
- supplies the posterior pelvic region (the gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus
inferior gluteal artery
exits the greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis muscle
- a terminal branch of the internal iliac artery supplying the gluteal and thigh regions
- the inferior gluteal nerve supplies the gluteus maximus
small saphenous vein
- travels along the posterior lateral aspect of the calf
- drains the lateral foot and leg and drains into the popliteal vein
fibular vein
travels on the posterolateral aspect of the interosseous membrane with the fibular artery
anterior and posterior tibial veins
drain the anterior and posterior compartments of the leg, respectively, and unite to form the popliteal vein
external iliac vein
this is what the femoral vein turns into as it passes deep to the inguinal ligament
deep femoral vein
a vein that drains into the femoral vein
medial plantar artery
- much smaller than the lateral plantar artery
- supplies the medial aspect of the foot
plantar arch
formed when the lateral plantar artery turns medially and unites with the deep plantar branch of the dorsalis pedis artery
internal iliac artery
the smaller terminal branch of the common iliac artery
- supplies everything in the pelvic cavity
external iliac artery
- a major blood vessel transporting oxygenated blood out of the pelvic region and into the leg
medial circumflex femoral artery
- a branch of the deep femoral artery
- an artery in the upper thigh that helps supply blood to the neck of the femur
artery to the femoral head
this travels within the ligamentum teres
- this is important for blood flow to the femoral head and can be damaged with hip dislocation
- damage can lead to a lack of blood supply to the head of the femur and this can lead to necrotic death
superior gluteal artery
- this supplies all the gluteal muscles but is mostly responsible for supplying the medius and minimus
- supplies the maximus via an anastomosis
- exits the greater sciatic foramen superior to the piriformis
inferior gluteal artery
- this supplies all the gluteal maximus
- supplies the minimus and medius via an anastomosis
- exits the greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis
what is important to remember about the saphenous vein blood
this blood is being shunted to the deep veins by perforating veins because the saphenous veins are in the skin and are not surrounded by muscles
- this is important to note because muscle contraction is often used to aid in fighting gravity to get the blood back to the heart
perforating veins
these carry blood from the superficial veins (the saphenous veins) to the deep veins where muscle actin can aid in the movement against gravity
