Arteries of the lower limb Flashcards
Describe the main arterial branches from the common iliac into the lower limb
-Common iliac -> Internal and external iliac -> External iliac-> crosses under inguinal ligament and becomes femoral -> gives off deep femoral artery-> femoral artery continues through adductor hyatus of adductor magnus and becomes popliteal artery-> popliteal artery branches into anterior and posterior tibial which gives off fibular artery-> Posterior tibial continues into the foot -> anterior tibial becomes dorsalis pedis in the foot
When and where from does the profunda femoris arise?
-Arises in the femoral triangle from the posteriolateral aspect of the femoral artery
What are the main branches of the profunda femoris?
- Perforating branches
- Lateral femoral circumflex
- Medial femoral circumflex
What do the perforating branches perforate and supply?
- Perforate aDductor magnus
- Contribute to the supply of medial and posterior thigh
Where does the lateral circumflex travel and what does it supply?
- Around the anterior lateral side of the femur
- Supplies some of the muscles in the lateral thigh eg vastus lateralis
Where does the medial circumflex run and what does it serve?
- Wraps around posterior femur
- Supplies the neck and head of femur
What does the femoral artery supply as it descends the thigh?
-The anterior thigh muscles
What can the femoral artery be used easily for clinical procedures?
-It is located superficially in the femoral triangle and thus is easy to access
What clinical procedures are commonly performed using the femoral artery?
- Coronary angiography
- Arterial blood gases
Describe a coronary angiography
-fem artery catheterised with a long thin tube which is navigated up the external iliac, common iliac, aorta and into the coronary vessels. A radioactive dye is ejected into the coronary vessels and any wall thickenings or blockages can be visualised by x-ray imaging
Apart from the femoral artery, what other artery supplies the thigh?
-Obturator artery
Where does the obturator artery arise from?
-Internal iliac artery in the pelvic region
What muscles does the obturator artery supply?
- Pectineus, obturator externus, adductor muscles and gracilic (medial thigh muscles)
- Some deep gluteal muscles
What is the main blood supply to the gluteal region?
-Superior and inferior gluteal arteries
Where do the gluteal arteries arise from and how do they enter the gluteal region?
- From the internal iliac
- Through greater sciatic foramen
How is piriformis an anatomical landmark for the gluteal arteries?
-Superior gluteal leaves the foramen above piriformis and inferior leaves below piriformis
What arteries serve the knee joint?
-Complex genicular branches anastomose around the knee joint
Where do the genicular arteries arise from?
-Popliteal artery
Where does the popliteal artery leave the popliteal fossa?
-Sandwiched between gastronemius and popliteus
What does the popliteal artery branch into?
-Anterior and posterior tibial arteries
How does the posterior tibial artery pass from the knee to enter the foot?
-Travels down the posterior leg, along the surface of the deep muscles and enters the foot via the tarsal tunnel
What accompanies the posterior tibial artery through the tarsal tunnel?
-Tibial nerve
What branch is given from the posterior tibial artery?
-Fibular artery
What does the fibular artery serve?
- Lateral compartment of leg
- Adjacent muscles in posterior leg
