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
Describe the path of the anterior tibial artery from popliteus?
- Passes anteriorly through tibia and fibular, through a gap in the interosseous membrane and moves inferiorly down the leg
- Becomes dorsalis pedis in the foot
What are the main 2 arteries which supply the foot?
- Posterior tibial artery
- Dorsalis pedis
Where does dorsalis pedis run in the foot?
- Passes over dorsal aspect of tarsal bones and moves inferiorly towards the sole of the foot
- Anastomoses with lateral plantar artery to form the deep plantar arch
- Supplies the dorsal aspect of the foot and contributes to the supply of the toes via deep plantar arch
Describe the path of posterior tibial artery in the foot
- Enters the sole of the foot through the tarsal tunnel
- Splits into lateral and medial plantar arteries
- Supply the plantar side of the foot and contribute to the supply of the toes via the deep plantar arch
What are the three main pulse points in the lower limb?
- Femoral
- Popliteal
- Dorsalis pedis
Where can the femoral pulse be palpated?
-As it enters the femoral triangle at the mid-inguinal point (half way between ASIS and pubic synthesis)
Where can the popliteal pulse be palpated?
- Hard to find
- Deep in the popliteal fossa and requires deep palpation to feel
Where can the dorsalis pedis pulse be palpated?
-On the dosrum of the foot, just lateral to extensor hallucis longus
What is the main artery of the lower limb?
-Femoral artery
