Arteries of the lower limb

Question 1

Describe the main arterial branches from the common iliac into the lower limb

Answer 1

-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

Question 2

When and where from does the profunda femoris arise?

Answer 2

-Arises in the femoral triangle from the posteriolateral aspect of the femoral artery

Question 3

What are the main branches of the profunda femoris?

Answer 3

• Perforating branches
• Lateral femoral circumflex
• Medial femoral circumflex

Question 4

What do the perforating branches perforate and supply?

Answer 4

• Perforate aDductor magnus

- Contribute to the supply of medial and posterior thigh

Question 5

Where does the lateral circumflex travel and what does it supply?

Answer 5

• Around the anterior lateral side of the femur

- Supplies some of the muscles in the lateral thigh eg vastus lateralis

Question 6

Where does the medial circumflex run and what does it serve?

Answer 6

• Wraps around posterior femur

- Supplies the neck and head of femur

Question 7

What does the femoral artery supply as it descends the thigh?

Answer 7

-The anterior thigh muscles

Question 8

What can the femoral artery be used easily for clinical procedures?

Answer 8

-It is located superficially in the femoral triangle and thus is easy to access

Question 9

What clinical procedures are commonly performed using the femoral artery?

Answer 9

• Coronary angiography

- Arterial blood gases

Question 10

Describe a coronary angiography

Answer 10

-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

Question 11

Apart from the femoral artery, what other artery supplies the thigh?

Answer 11

-Obturator artery

Question 12

Where does the obturator artery arise from?

Answer 12

-Internal iliac artery in the pelvic region

Question 13

What muscles does the obturator artery supply?

Answer 13

• Pectineus, obturator externus, adductor muscles and gracilic (medial thigh muscles)
• Some deep gluteal muscles

Question 14

What is the main blood supply to the gluteal region?

Answer 14

-Superior and inferior gluteal arteries

Question 15

Where do the gluteal arteries arise from and how do they enter the gluteal region?

Answer 15

• From the internal iliac

- Through greater sciatic foramen

Question 16

How is piriformis an anatomical landmark for the gluteal arteries?

Answer 16

-Superior gluteal leaves the foramen above piriformis and inferior leaves below piriformis

Question 17

What arteries serve the knee joint?

Answer 17

-Complex genicular branches anastomose around the knee joint

Question 18

Where do the genicular arteries arise from?

Answer 18

-Popliteal artery

Question 19

Where does the popliteal artery leave the popliteal fossa?

Answer 19

-Sandwiched between gastronemius and popliteus

Question 20

What does the popliteal artery branch into?

Answer 20

-Anterior and posterior tibial arteries

Question 21

How does the posterior tibial artery pass from the knee to enter the foot?

Answer 21

-Travels down the posterior leg, along the surface of the deep muscles and enters the foot via the tarsal tunnel

Question 22

What accompanies the posterior tibial artery through the tarsal tunnel?

Answer 22

-Tibial nerve

Question 23

What branch is given from the posterior tibial artery?

Answer 23

-Fibular artery

Question 24

What does the fibular artery serve?

Answer 24

• Lateral compartment of leg

- Adjacent muscles in posterior leg

Question 25

Describe the path of the anterior tibial artery from popliteus?

Answer 25

• 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

Question 26

What are the main 2 arteries which supply the foot?

Answer 26

• Posterior tibial artery

- Dorsalis pedis

Question 27

Where does dorsalis pedis run in the foot?

Answer 27

• 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

Question 28

Describe the path of posterior tibial artery in the foot

Answer 28

• 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

Question 29

What are the three main pulse points in the lower limb?

Answer 29

• Femoral
• Popliteal
• Dorsalis pedis

Question 30

Where can the femoral pulse be palpated?

Answer 30

-As it enters the femoral triangle at the mid-inguinal point (half way between ASIS and pubic synthesis)

Question 31

Where can the popliteal pulse be palpated?

Answer 31

• Hard to find

- Deep in the popliteal fossa and requires deep palpation to feel

Question 32

Where can the dorsalis pedis pulse be palpated?

Answer 32

-On the dosrum of the foot, just lateral to extensor hallucis longus

Question 33

What is the main artery of the lower limb?

Answer 33

-Femoral artery