lower extremity veins and arteries

Question 1

where are the great and lesser saphenous vein found?

Answer 1

subcutaneous tissue of the lower extremity

Question 2

what are the deep veins that the great and lesser saphenous vein communicate with?

Answer 2

perforating veins- anterior and posterior tibial

Question 3

the great saphenous vein arises from?

Answer 3

the medial aspect of the dorsal venous arch

Question 4

what accompanies the great saphenous vein as it ascends along the medial aspect of the leg?

Answer 4

the saphenous nerve

Question 5

where does the great saphenous vein travel?

Answer 5

• it passes superiorly in front of the medial malleolus past the ankle joint
• then passes behind the knee and curves forward on the medial thigh

Question 6

what opening does the great saphenous vein pass through and where does it terminate?

Answer 6

the saphenous opening of the fascia lata and it terminates at the femoral vein

Question 7

what are the 3 tributaries of the great saphenous vein

Answer 7

superficial circumflex iliac vein, superficial epigastric vein, superficial or external pudendal

Question 8

where does the lesser saphenous vein arise from?

Answer 8

the lateral aspect of the dorsal venous arch

Question 9

where does the lesser saphenous vein travel?

Answer 9

• ascends behind the lateral malleolus as it passes the ankle joint
• follows the lateral border of the tendon calcaneus and runs the posterior aspect of leg

Question 10

what nerve accompanies the lesser saphenous vein?

Answer 10

sural nerve

Question 11

where does the lesser saphenous vein terminate?

Answer 11

popliteal vein and fossa

Question 12

which vein is commonly used for coronary artery bypass?

Answer 12

great saphenous because it is long and has higher percentage of muscular and elastic fibers

Question 13

what are 2 characteristics that makes the femoral triangle clinically important

Answer 13

1. hernias are common here

2. arterial pressure point to control bleeding

Question 14

boundaries of the femoral triangle

Answer 14

superior- inguinal ligament
lateral- sartorius
medial- adductor longus

Question 15

contents of the femoral triangle (lateral to medial)

Answer 15

femoral nerve
femoral sheath (femoral artery and vein)
inguinal lymph nodes

Question 16

contents of femoral triangle (medial to lateral)

Answer 16

inguinal lymph nodes
femoral sheath (artery and vein)
femoral nerve

Question 17

what is the femoral sheath

Answer 17

connective tissue which encloses the femoral blood vessels and fascia covering the floor of the pelvic cavity

Question 18

what is the function of the femoral sheath?

Answer 18

to allow femoral artery and vein to glide deep to the inguinal ligament during movements of hip joint

Question 19

what are the 3 compartments of the femoral sheath?

Answer 19

lateral- femoral artery
intermediate- femoral vein
medial- femoral canal

Question 20

the most medial and smallest of the 3 compartments formed from the femoral sheath is called the?

Answer 20

femoral canal

Question 21

what is the purpose of the femoral canal?

Answer 21

the space allows the femoral vein to expand when there is increased venous return from the lower extremity

Question 22

what does the femoral canal consist of?

Answer 22

adipose tissue and single lympathic lymph node

Question 23

what is the opening in the roof of the femoral canal called?

Answer 23

femoral ring

Question 24

where does a femoral hernia usually originate?

Answer 24

femoral ring- weak area in the floor of pelvic cavity

Question 25

when a hernia is strangulated it means?

Answer 25

the blood supply to the herniated intestine is cut off and can cause blockage

Question 26

what is the main arterial supply of the lower extremity?

Answer 26

femoral artery

Question 27

the femoral artery is a continuation of what?

Answer 27

external iliac artery

Question 28

when the femoral artery passes through the adductor hiatus it becomes?

Answer 28

the popliteal artery

Question 29

what are the 5 branches of the femoral artery?

Answer 29

1 superficial
2 femoral profundus
3 lateral and medial circumflex
4 perforating arteries
5 descending genicular

Question 30

the best place to take a pulse of the femoral artery is below the midpoint of?

Answer 30

the inguinal ligament- vessel compressed against pubic tubercle

Question 31

the femoral vein is a continuation of?

Answer 31

the popliteal vein

Question 32

as the femoral vein leaves the femoral triangle and enters the pelvis it becomes the?

Answer 32

external iliac vein

Question 33

in the inferior part of the triangle, the femoral vein lies deep to the femoral artery and receives tributaries from?

Answer 33

femoral profundus and great saphenous vein

Question 34

what is another structure associated with the popliteal vein in the popliteal fossa?

Answer 34

popliteal lymph nodes- there are numerous lymph nodes found within the triangle

Question 35

what is a long narrow passageway that begins at the apex of the femoral triangle and ends at the adductor hiatus of the adductor magnus?

Answer 35

adductor canal or Hunter’s canal

Question 36

the adductor canal provides an important passageway for what 3 structures?

Answer 36

femoral artery, femoral vein and saphenous nerve

Question 37

what are the branches of the internal iliac artery that leave the pelvic cavity via the greater sciatic notch?

Answer 37

superior and inferior gluteal arteries

Question 38

what does the superior gluteal artery supply?

Answer 38

glut max
glut med and min
tensor fascia lata

Question 39

what does the inferior gluteal artery supply?

Answer 39

glut max
obturator internus
quadratus femoris
posterior thigh

Question 40

contents of the popliteal fossa? 1 artery, 2 veins, 3 nerves and lymph nodes

Answer 40

popliteal artery
popliteal and lesser saphenous vein
common fibular, tibial and posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
popliteal lymph nodes

Question 41

what is the deepest neurovascular structure of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 41

popliteal artery

Question 42

what does the genicular anastomosis at the back of the knee do?

Answer 42

provide collateral circulation to the leg during flexion at the knee joint (when artery may be compressed)

Question 43

where does the popliteal artery terminate?

Answer 43

inferior aspect of the fossa into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries

Question 44

what is a popliteal aneurysm?

Answer 44

abnormal dilation of the artery which causes swelling and pain in the fossa

Question 45

the bifurcation of the popliteal artery may become what?

Answer 45

an arterial embolism which would result in loss of blood to leg and foot