Blood supply of the lower limb

Question 1

Discuss the femoral artery

Answer 1

Origin: continuation of external iliac at the mid inguinal point
Course: upper half in femoral triangle (VAN- medial to lateral) and lower half in adductor canal
Termination: passes through adductor hiatus
Branches:
1. 3 superficial inguinal- Superficial external pudendal, Superficial epigastric, Superficial circumflex iliac
2. Deep external pudendal
3. Profunda femoris- gives lateral circumflex and medial circumflex femoral and 4 perforating arteries.
4. Muscular branches
5. Descending genicular

Medial circumflex femoral branches- ascending to tronchanteric anastomosis, acetabular to hip joint and head of femur, transverse to cruciate anastomosis
Lateral circumflex femoral branches - ascending to trochanteric and iliac anastomoses, descending branch to knee joint, transverse to cruciate anastomosis
1st perforating artery shares in cruciate anastomosis
2nd supplies shaft of femur
3rd gives muscular branches to hamstring muscles
4th is the terminal branch and supplies the knee joint

Question 2

State and explain all the anastomoses of the lower limb

Answer 2

1. Cruciate anastomosis : inferior gluteal, transverse branch medial circumflex, transverse lateral circumflex and first perforating artery
2. Trochanteric: superior and inferior gluteal arteries, ascending branches of lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries

Question 3

Discuss popliteal artery

Answer 3

Origin: continuation of femoral artery at adductor hiatus
Termination: lower border of popliteus muscle by dividing into anterior and posterior tibial arteries
Landmarks: deepest structure in popliteal fossa, runs on the floor
Branches: 5 genicular arteries and muscular branches
1. Superior medial and lateral genicular arteries
2. Middle genicular artery
3. Inferior medial and lateral genicular arteries

Question 4

Discuss anterior tibial artery

Answer 4

Origin: one of the terminal branches of popliteal artery at the lower border of popliteus
Termination: in front of ankle joint between medial and lateral malleolus to continue as dorsalis pedis artery
Course:
Branches: 5
- two tibial recurrent
- two malleolar
- muscular branches

Question 5

Dorsalis pedis artery

Answer 5

Origin: continuation of anterior tibial
Termination: enters sole of foot to anastomoses with plantar arch
Branches: 2 tarsal, 2 metatarsal, arcuate
1. Medial tarsal artery
2. Lateral tarsal
3. Arcuate
4. First dorsal metatarsal
5. First plantar metatarsal

Dorsalis pedis pulse lateral to EHL tendon

Question 6

Posterior tibial artery

Answer 6

Origin: one of terminal branches of popliteal artery
Termination:deep to flexor retinaculum by dividing into medial and plantar arteries
Branches:
1. Circumflex fibular- around neck of fibula
2. Peroneal artery- runs along back of fibular, gives branches to muscles attached to fibula, nutrient artery to fibula and communicating branch, perforating branch( interossesous membrane), calcanean branch
3. Posterior tibial- runs along back of tibia, gives branches to muscles attached to tibia, gives nutrient artery to tibia and communicating branch, malleolar branch, calacanean branch