The arteries of the lower limbs serve as blood conduits to the tissues of the lower limbs. They are larger relative to the arteries of the upper limbs.

In this video, we will consider the femoral artery (a. femoralis) system. It is a continuation of the external iliac artery (arteria iliaca communis).

It arises at the level of the inguinal ligament, follows down through the vascular space laterally of the vein of the same name, along the Iliopectineal groove in the femoral triangle, where it is covered only by fascia and skin.

This is the spot where pulsation of the femoral artery is easily palpable. It passes in the groove between the vastus medialis muscle lying laterally, the adductor magnus and adductor longus muscles. Then it goes into the adductor canal formed by these muscles and their tendons, descends into the popliteal fossa, where it continues into the artery of the same name (a. poplitea).

It supplies the femur, the skin and muscles of the thigh, the skin of the anterior abdominal wall, external genitalia, hip joint, and knee joint with blood.

The femoral artery gives off five branches in the femoral triangle and one in the adductor canal, a total of six branches:

1. The superficial epigastric artery (a. epigastrica superficialis)

   

   

2. The superficial circumflex iliac artery (a. circumflexa iliaca superficialis)

   

   

3. External pudendal arteries (aa. pudendae externae)

   

   

4. The deep external pudendal artery (a. pudenda externa profunda)

5. The deep femoral artery (a. profunda femoris)

   

   

6. The descending genicular artery (a. genicularis descending)

The superficial epigastric artery (a. epigastrica superficialis) passes through the cribriform fascia to the anterior side of the thigh, then upwards in the fiber of the anterior wall of the abdomen.

It supplies the inferior part of the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle, subcutaneous tissue, and the skin of the anterior abdominal wall with blood.

The artery anastomoses with branches of the superior epigastric artery (from the internal thoracic artery).

The superficial circumflex iliac artery (a. circumflexa iliaca superficialis) arises below the previous one (or from the same trunk), and passes laterally parallel to the inguinal ligament to the anterior superior iliac spine, where it branches in the adjacent muscles and skin.

It anastomoses with the branches of the deep circumflex iliac artery (from the external iliac artery), and with the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery.

The external pedundal arteries (aa. pudendae externae) in an amount of 2 or 3 pass through the saphenous open-

ing under the skin of the thigh. In men they pass to the scrotum and are called the anterior scrotal branches (rr. scrotales anteriores), and in women they pass to the labium majus and are called the anterior labial branches (rr. labiales anteriores).

The deep external pidendal artery (a. pudenda externa profunda) crosses the pectinate muscle and the adductor longus muscle, then passes through the fascia lata.

It supplies the skin of the perineum, as well as the skin of the scrotum or labia majora with blood.

The deep femoral artery (a. profunda femoris) is the largest branch of the femoral artery. It arises somewhat distal to the inguinal ligament. It is initially located laterally to the femoral artery, and then goes deeper towards the medial side of the femur. It passes between the pectinate muscle and the adductor longus muscle, then passes between the adductor longus and brevis muscles. It descends between the adductor longus and magnus muscles.

It supplies the extensors, flexors and adductor muscles of the thigh with blood.

It pierces the large adductor muscle and anastomoses with the muscular branches of the popliteal artery

The descending genicular artery (a. genicularis descendens) is the most distal branch that arises directly proximal to the adductor muscle opening in the adductor muscle canal. It descends inside the vastus medialis muscle to the medial side of the knee.

The artery supplies the vastus medialis muscle and the adductor magnus muscle, as well as the superior medial area of the thigh skin with blood.

The artery anastomoses with the superior medial genicular artery.

Dictionary

The femoral arteryand its branches

Aorta

aorta

Common iliac artery

a. iliaaca communis

External iliac artery

a. iliaca externa

Femoral artery

a. femoralis

Superficial epigastric artery

a. epigastrica superficialis

Superficial circumflex iliac artery

a. circumflexa iliaca superficialis

External pudendal arteries

aa. pudendae externae

Anterior scrotal branches

rr. scrotales anteriores

Anterior labial branches

rr. labiales anteriores

Deep external pudendalartery

a. pudenda externa profunda

Deep femoral artery

a. profunda femoris

Descending genicular artery

a. genicularis descendens