Circulation and Nerves of the Lower Limb Flashcards
What is the pathway of oxygenated blood to the lower limb?
Oxygenated blood is ejected by the left ventricle to the Ascending aorta -> aortic arch -> descending aorta (thoracic and abdominal)
The abdominal aorta terminates into left and right common iliac arteries.
At sacroiliac joint, common iliac arteries give rise to External and Internal iliac arteries.
External iliac artery supplies the majority of the lower limb while Internal iliac also contribute.
What are the branches of the internal iliac artery?
Superior gluteal artery
Inferior gluteal artery
Internal pudendal artery
Obturator artery
Where does the superior gluteal artery lie?
Passes from the pelvic cavity to the gluteal region via the greater sciatic foramen, above piriformis muscle
Where does the inferior gluteal artery lie?
enters the gluteal region
via the greater sciatic foramen, below piriformis muscle
Where does the obturator artery lie?
lies on lateral wall of pelvis and passes through obturator canal
Where does the external iliac artery become the femoral artery?
External iliac artery passes under the inguinal ligament and becomes femoral artery
Where may one find the pulse of the femoral artery?
Inferior to midpoint of the inguinal point
Where does the femoral artery run?
Descends in the femoral triangle while giving off four branches
Enters Adductor canal to pass into the popliteal fossa
What are the four branches of the femoral artery?
- Superficial epigastric artery
- Superficial circumflex iliac artery
- External pudendal arteries
- Profunda femoris artery (deep artery of thigh)
Describe the supply of the profunda femoris?
There are rich anastomoses around the hip with the gluteal vessels (with branches of internal iliac) and around the knee.
Supplies the posterior compartment of the thigh
What does the profunda femoris give off?
– Medial circumflex femoral artery
– Lateral circumflex femoral artery
– 3-4 perforators.
What vessels make up the trochanteric anastomosis in the hip joint?
- Medial circumflex femoral artery
- Lateral circumflex femoral artery
- Superior gluteal artery
- Inferior gluteal artery
What vessels make up the Cruciate anastomosis in the hip joint?
- Medial circumflex femoral artery (and retinacular branches) - Lateral circumflex femoral artery - Obturator artery (and artery to head of femur)
What may impact on the blood supply to the femoral head?
fracture of the femoral neck.
Note the retinacular vessels passing on the neck to the head
What type of protection does the blood supply of the thigh have against damage to a blood vessel?
Its collateral circulation
If there is a blockage between the femoral artery and external iliac artery, blood can reach the popliteal artery through a host of other vessels
What vessels allow blood to reach the popliteal artery when there is a blockage between the femoral artery and external iliac artery?
– internal iliac -> inferior gluteal artery -> a perforating branch of the profunda femoris artery -> the lateral circumflex femoral artery -> its descending branch -> the superior lateral genicular artery -> the popliteal artery
– Via the anastomoses between obturator artery and branches of profunda femoris
Where is the origin of the popliteal artery?
Between Hiatus tendineus and lower border of popliteus muscle
Why is it difficult to get. pulse from the popliteal artery?
Deepest structure in the popliteal fossa
If you were to find a pulse from the popliteal artery, where would you find it?
Medial aspect of the popliteal fossa
How many branches does the popliteal artery have?
Gives rise to 5 genicular branches
Where does the the popliteal artery exit the popliteal artery?
Exit the popliteal fossa by passing through tendinous arch of soleus
What does the popliteal artery turn into?
Ends as the posterior and anterior tibial arteries
What does the popliteal artery supply?
The knee joint
What are some clinical considerations of the popliteal artery?
Second most common site of aneurysm
May be compromised in dislocation of the knee and fractures of the lower femur
Describe the blood supply to the knee joint
5 Genicular arteries from popliteal artery
Branches of the femoral artery
Branches of the profunda
femoris
A branch from the anterior tibial artery join and form genicular anastomosis
What are the 5 genicular arteries from the popliteal artery?
Superior lateral genicular artery Inferior lateral genicular artery Superior medial genicular artery Middle genicular artery Inferior medial genicular artery
What branch from the anterior tibial artery joins and forms genicular anastomosis to supply the knee joint?
Anterior tibial recurrent artery
What branches of the profunda femoris supply the knee joint?
Descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery
Where does the anterior tibial artery lie?
Anterior tibial artery descends from the popliteal artery, deep to the anterior compartment muscles, accompanied by deep fibular [peroneal] nerve
What does the anterior tibial artery supply?
the anterior compartment muscles
What artery does the anterior tibial artery become?
The dorsalis pedis artery
Where does the anterior tibial artery become the dorsalis pedis artery?
Inferior to extensor retinaculum, it
becomes the dorsalis pedis artery
Describe the dorsalis pedis artery
The dorsalis pedis − Arcuate branch − 1st dorsal metatarsal branch • Dorsal digital arteries Dorsalis pedis pulse is felt in the first intermetatarsal space
Where does the posterior tibial artery lie?
Accompanies the tibial nerve as it descends deep to the soleus muscle.
What arteries do the posterior tibial artery give off?
Gives off the fibular, circumflex fibular, and nutrient arteries
What does the posterior tibial artery supply?
Supplies the muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg (plantar flexors)
What does the posterior tibial artery become?
Becomes the medial and lateral plantar arteries after running posterior to the medial malleolus
Where can one find the pulse of ht posterior tibial artery?
behind the medial malleolus
Describe the lateral and medial plantar arteries?
The medial and lateral plantar arteries supply the sole of the foot along with their branches: superficial and deep plantar arches, respectively.
The deep arch gives rise to plantar digital arteries of the phalanges.
Where do the superficial veins of the lower limb originate?
Originate from the dorsal venous network of the foot and dorsal veins of foot
What are the superficial veins of the lower limb?
Great (long) saphenous vein
Small (short) saphenous vein
Where does the great (long) saphenous vein lie?
ascends 2.5 cm anterior to the medial malleolus, posterior to medial condyle of femur (Hands breadth behind the patella)
Pierces the fascia lata to join the femoral vein.
Where does the small (short) saphenous vein lie?
ascends posterior to lateral malleolus and penetrates the deep fascia of the leg in the popliteal fossa.
Merges with deep veins to form the popliteal vein.
Where do the deep veins of the lower limb lie?
They ascend internal to the deep fascia of the lower limb
Vena comitantes generally occur as paired veins travelling with the arteries of the same name, within vascular sheaths with the artery (i.e. anterior and posterior tibial veins)
Where does the femoral vein lie?
Femoral vein ascends in the adductor canal from the popliteal vein, it enters the femoral sheath and ends as the external iliac vein
Where does the femoral vein receive drainage from?
It receives drainage from profunda femoris, great saphenous and other small branches