Vessels of the Pelvic Limb

Question 1

Caudal gluteal a.

Answer 1

Rises from the internal iliac a.
Supplies blood to mm. outside of pelvis in caudal thigh region
Gives rise to the iliolumbar a. and cranial gluteal a.
Supplies superficial gluteal, piriformis, internal obturator, and middle gluteal mm.

Question 2

External iliac a.

Answer 2

Divides into deep femoral and femoral aa.

Question 3

Deep femoral a.

Answer 3

Branch off of the external iliac a.
Gives rise to pudendoepigastric trunk and medial circumflex femoral a.

Question 4

Femoral a.

Answer 4

Main continuation off of the external iliac a.; passes through vascular lacuna
Branches into: Superficial circumflex iliac a., lateral circumflex femoral a., proximal caudal femoral a., saphenous a., descending genicular a., middle caudal femoral a., distal caudal femoral a., and popliteal a.

Question 5

Saphenous a.

Answer 5

Branch of femoral a.
Supplies skin on medial aspect of stifle
Terminates into cranial br. (dorsal common digital aa.) and caudal br. (plantar common digital aa.) to supply the most dorsal and plantar aspects of the pes

Question 6

Popliteal a.

Answer 6

Continuation of the femoral a. after the distal caudal femoral a.
Courses over heads of gastrocnemius m. and ends in the interosseous space between tibia and fibula
Gives rise to the caudal tibial a. and continues into the cranial tibial a.

Question 6

Dorsal pedal a.

Answer 6

Continuation of cranial tibial a. distal to tarsocrural joint
Supplies tarsus
Gives rise to arcuate a. and continues into dorsal metatarsal aa. II

Question 7

Dorsal metatarsal a.

Answer 7

Continuation of the dorsal pedal a.; gives rise to perforating metatarsal a. which is the main blood supply to the hind paw