Lower Limb Blood Supply

Question 1

What is the femoral artery a continuation of, and where does this occur?

Answer 1

External iliac artery, becomes femoral artery when it crosses under inguinal ligament and enters femoral triangle

Question 2

What artery arises from the femoral artery in the femoral triangle?

Answer 2

Profunda femoris artery

Question 3

Which 3 branches are given off by the profunda femoris artery and what do they each supply?

Answer 3

1. Perforating branches: medial and posterior thigh
2. Lateral femoral circumflex: lateral thigh
3. Medial femoral circumflex: Head and neck of femur. AVN of femur head if damaged.

Question 4

What does the femoral artery travel along after leaving the femoral triangle?

Answer 4

The adductor canal

Question 5

What does the femoral artery supply during its descent down the adductor canal?

Answer 5

The anterior thigh muscles

Question 6

Where does the adductor canal end?

Answer 6

The adductor hiatus, an opening within the adductor Magnus muscle

Question 7

What does the femoral artery become when it enters the posterior compartment of the thigh?

Answer 7

Popliteal artery

Question 8

Name a clinical procedure that makes use of the femoral artery within the femoral triangle

Answer 8

Coronary angiograph

Question 9

Where does the obturator artery arise?

Answer 9

From the internal iliac artery

Question 10

What does the obturator artery descend through?

Answer 10

The obturator canal

Question 11

What does the obturator artery supply?

Answer 11

Pectineus, obturator externus, adductors, gracilis, deep gluteals

Question 12

Which artery do the superior and inferior gluteal arteries arise from?

Answer 12

Internal iliac artery

Question 13

Where do the gluteal arteries enter the gluteal region?

Answer 13

Via the greater sciatic foramen: superior = above piriformis, inferior = below piriformis

Question 14

Which muscles does the popliteal artery leave the popliteal fossa between?

Answer 14

Gastrocnemius, popliteus

Question 15

Where does the popliteal artery terminate and what does it give rise to?

Answer 15

Lower border of popliteus. Gives rise to anterior and posterior tibial arteries.

Question 16

Where does the posterior tibial artery enter the plantar surface of the foot, and what structure accompanies it?

Answer 16

Tarsal tunnel, tibial nerve

Question 17

Where does the fibular artery arise from?

Answer 17

Posterior tibial as it descends leg

Question 18

What does the fibular artery supply?

Answer 18

Lateral and posterior leg muscles

Question 19

What does the anterior tibial artery pass through to move anteriorly?

Answer 19

Interosseous membrane between tibia and fibula

Question 20

What does the anterior tibial artery become in the foot?

Answer 20

Dorsalis pedis artery

Question 21

Which nerve is at risk in a popliteal artery aneurysm? What would be the symptoms?

Answer 21

Tibial nerve.

Weakened / absent plantar flexion, paraesthesia of foot and postero-lateral leg

Question 22

Which arteries make up the deep plantar arch of the foot?

Answer 22

Dorsalis pedis anastomosing with lateral plantar

Question 23

What does the posterior tibial artery birfurcate into?

Answer 23

Medial and lateral plantar arteries

Question 24

Where is the posterior tibial pulse felt?

Answer 24

Posterior to the medial malleolus

Question 25

Where is the dorsalis pedis pulse felt?

Answer 25

Dorsum of foot, lateral to extensor hallucis longus

Question 26

What forms the anterior tibial vein?

Answer 26

Drainage of some veins from dorsal venous arch

Question 27

Which veins arise on the plantar aspect of the foot, and what does these combine to form?

Answer 27

Medial and lateral plantar veins, combine to form posterior tibial and fibular veins.

Question 28

Where does the posterior tibial vein enter the leg?

Answer 28

With posterior tibial artery, posterior to medial malleoulus

Question 29

Which veins unite to form the popliteal vein?

Answer 29

Anterior tibial, posterior tibial, fibular veins

Question 30

Where does the popliteal vein enter the thigh

Answer 30

Via the adductor canal

Question 31

Where does the femoral vein arise?

Answer 31

From the popliteal artery, when it enters the thigh

Question 32

What is the deep vein of the thigh and what does it drain?

Answer 32

Thigh muscles via perforating veins, empties into distal femoral vein

Question 33

Where do the superficial veins of the lower limb run?

Answer 33

Within subcutaneous tissue

Question 34

What forms the great saphenous vein?

Answer 34

Dorsal venous arch, dorsal vein of great toe

Question 35

Describe the course of the great saphenous vein at the ankle, leg, and knee.

Answer 35

Passes anterior to medial malleolus, ascends medial side of leg, travels posterior to the medial condyle

Question 36

Where does the great saphenous vein terminate?

Answer 36

Drains into femoral vein immediately distal to inguinal ligament

Question 37

What forms the small saphenous vein?

Answer 37

The dorsal venous arch and dorsal vein of the little toe

Question 38

Describe the course of the small saphenous vein at the ankle and leg

Answer 38

Passes posteriorly to lateral malleolus, ascends posterior leg just lateral to the calcaneal tendon

Question 39

Where does the small saphenous vein terminate?

Answer 39

Passes between the two heads of gastrocnemius and drains into popliteal vein in popliteal fossa

Question 40

What is a varicose vein?

Answer 40

Vein that becomes dilated due to incompetence of valves.