Arteries of the lower limb: thigh & gluteal reion

Question 1

What is the femoral artery a continuation of? describe the course of arteries before the femoral artery

Answer 1

external iliac artery (terminal branch of abdominal aorta)

abdominal aorta –> right common iliac –> external iliac –> femoral artery

Question 2

When does the external iliac artery becomes the femoral artery?

Answer 2

when it crosses under the inguinal ligament and enters the femoral triangle

Question 3

Which artery arises in the femoral triangle?

Answer 3

profunda femoris artery (branch of femoral artery)

arise at the posterolateral aspect of the femoral artery

Question 4

What are the 3 branches that the profunda femoris artery gives off?

Answer 4

1. medial circumflex femoral artery
2. lateral circumflex femoral artery
3. perforating branches

Question 5

Which branch does the lateral circumflex femoral artery give off?

Answer 5

descending branch

Question 6

Describe the perforating branches of profunda femoris artery

Answer 6

3/4 arteries that perforate the adductor magnus, contributing to the supply of the muscles in the medial and posterior thigh

Question 7

Describe the lateral femoral circumflex artery branching off the profunda femoris artery

Answer 7

wraps around the anterior, lateral side of the femur

supplying muscles in the lateral thigh

Question 8

Describe the medial circumflex femoral artery of the profunda femoris artery
what is the clinical significance of this artery?

Answer 8

wraps around the posterior side of the femur, supplying the neck & head of femur
in a fracture of neck of femur, this artery can easily be damaged - avascular necrosis of the femur head

Question 9

What happens after the femoral artery exits the femoral triangle?

Answer 9

the femoral artery continues down the anterior side of the thigh via adductor canal
during this descend, the artery supplies the anterior thigh muscles

Question 10

Where does the adductor canal end?

Answer 10

at an opening in the adductor magnus - adductor hiatus

the femoral artery moves through this opening

Question 11

What happens when the femoral artery moves through the opening of the adductor hiatus? what is the artery now called?

Answer 11

the femoral artery enters the posterior compartment of the thigh (proximal to the knee)
now known as popliteal artery

Question 12

Clinical: accessing the femoral artery
where is the femoral artery located within the femoral triangle?
which processes require access to the femoral artery?

Answer 12

femoral artery located superficially within the femoral triangle
used for coronary angiography & draw blood for arterial blood gases

Question 13

How is a coronary angiography carried out?

what is it used for?

Answer 13

femoral artery catheterised with a long, thin tube
tube navigated up the external iliac artery –> common iliac artery –> abdominal aorta –> coronary vessels
radioactive dye is then injected into the coronary vessels & any wall thickening / blockage can be visualised using x-ray

Question 14

Which artery is the main artery of the lower limb?

Answer 14

femoral artery