Arterial Supply of the Lower Limb

ObjectivesDescribe Anastomoses around: Hip, Knee

and ankle jointsEnumerate the most important branches,

and recognize the course of : Femoral, popliteal, Anterior tibial, and posterior tibial arches

Formation of the Dorsal and Plantar archesDifferentiate between superficial and deep

venous systemRecognize the importance of the valves in

the circulatory systemBe familiar with the main superficial veins in

the lower limb and their clinical significance Identify the major tributaries to the main

veins of the lower limb

Blood supply to lower limbRight and left Common iliac

arteries arise as terminal branches of the abdominal Aorta at the level of L4

Each artery ends anterior to the Sacroiliac joint by dividing into External, and Internal Iliac Arteries

Blood supply to lower limb

Frolich, Human Anatomy, Lower LImb

Internal Iliac Superior & Inferior Gluteal arteries

Obturator artery

External Iliac Femoral artery

• Deep femoral = adductors, hamstrings, quadriceps

Popliteal (continuation of femoral) • Geniculars = knee• Anterior Tibial = ant. leg muscles,

further branches to feet• Posterior Tibial = flexor muscles,

plantar arch, branches to toes

Internal Iliac Artery- Obturator artery “ leaves the

pelvis through the obturator canal”

- Inferior Gluteal artery” leaves through the greater sciatic foramen inferior to Piriformis”

- Superior Gluteal artery” leaves through the greater sciatic foramen superior to Piriformis”

=Deep circumflex iliac

Obturator ArteryArises from internal iliac in pelvis:

Enters thigh through obturator canal.Accompanied by anterior/posterior obturator nerve branches.

Gives rise to:Anterior and posterior

branches.Acetabular artery:

To head of femur via ligamentum teres

Superior gluteal arteryOrigin: continuation of

post division of internal iliac artery.

Course and distribution:

-passes out through greater sciatic foramen above Piriformis.

-divides into sup and deep branches to supply glutei.

Inferior gluteal artery

Origin: one of 2 terminal branches of ant division of internal iliac artery.

Course and distribution: -passes out through

greater sciatic foramen below Piriformis.

Distribution: Muscular branches.

Trochanteric anastomosis

Formed by:1. Branch of superior

gluteal artery.2. Inferior gluteal artery. 3. Ascending branch of

medial circumflex artery.

Cruciate anastomosis Formed by:1. Inferior gluteal

artery.2. Medial femoral

circumflex artery3. Lateral femoral

circumflex artery4. First perforating

artey

Branches of ExternalIliac artery

Femoral Artery

Femoral artery is the continuation of the external iliac artery:

Begins deep to the inguinal ligament. Enclosed within the femoral sheath. Becomes the popliteal artery: At the adductor hiatus. Proximal branches:

Superficial epigastric artery. :Anastomoses with inferior epigastric artery.

Superficial circumflex iliac artery: Anastomoses with deep circumflex iliac artery.Superficial external pudendal artery.

Passes medially toward external genitalia.

Dr. Iman Abdel Aal

Femoral Artery

Femoral Artery “deep branches”Deep branches:

Deep external pudendal.Descending genicular.

Profunda femoris (deep femoral) Arises from deep of femoral artery within

femoral triangle.Largest branch of femoral artery.Passes posterior to adductor longus

muscle.Branches:” of Profunda femoris”

Medial femoral circumflex.Lateral femoral circumflex.Perforating arteries (3).Descending genicular.

Femoral artery Cont.The femoral artery enters the

adductor canal to pass to the posterior compartment of the knee “popliteal fossa” and changes it’s name to popliteal artery

It is accompanied by popliteal vein which runs in the lateral side of the artery

Popliteal artery

Origin: Continuation of

femoral art as it passes through opening in adductor magnus muscle.

Course: from its origin it

runs downwards & slightly laterally in popliteal fossa

Popliteal artery

Reaches lower border of popliteus

Terminates by dividing into ant & post tibial arteries

Branches1. Muscular: supplies

surrounding muscles

2. Articular(genicular):

-lateral & medial superior genicular

-middle genicular

-lateral & medial inferior genicular

Anastomosis around the knee

Branches of femoral artery

Popliteal(muscular&

articular)Anterior &

posterior tibial arteries

Blood Supply of the anterior Compartment of the LegAnterior Tibial Artery The anterior tibial artery is

the smaller terminal branches of the popliteal artery.

It arises at the level of the lower border of the popliteus muscle and passes forward into the anterior compartment of the leg through an opening in the interosseous membrane.

It descends on the anterior surface of the interosseous membrane,

Anterior Tibial Artery In front of the ankle joint, the artery

becomes the dorsalis pedis artery.

Anterior tibial artery & nerve

Anterior Tibial ArteryBranchesMuscular branches to neighboring

muscles.Anastomotic branches that

anastomose with branches of other arteries around the knee and ankle joints.

Venae comitantes of the anterior tibial artery join those of the posterior tibial artery in the popliteal fossa to form the popliteal vein.

Artery of the Posterior Fascial Compartment of the Leg

Posterior Tibial Artery

The posterior tibial artery is one of the terminal branches of the popliteal artery.

It begins at the level of the lower border of the popliteus muscle and passes downward deep to the gastrocnemius and soleus and the deep transverse fascia of the leg.

Artery of the Posterior Fascial Compartment of the Leg

Posterior Tibial Artery

It lies on the posterior surface of the tibialis posterior muscle above and on the posterior surface of the tibia below.

The artery passes behind the medial malleolus deep to the flexor retinaculum and terminates by dividing into medial and lateral plantar arteries.

Artery of the Posterior Fascial Compartment of the Leg

Branches

Peroneal artery: It is a large artery that arises close

to the origin of the posterior tibial artery.

The peroneal artery gives off muscular branches and a nutrient artery to the fibula and ends by taking part in the anastomosis around the ankle joint.

Lateral Plantar ArteryThe lateral plantar artery is the larger terminal branch of the posterior tibial artery. At the base of the 5th metatarsal bone, the artery curves medially to form the plantar arch and at the proximal end of the first intermetatarsal space joins the dorsalis pedis artery. During its course, it gives off muscular, cutaneous, and articular branches. The plantar arch gives off plantar digital arteries to the toes.

Venous Drainage

Venous drainage of the lower limb.

Superficial and Deep veins: The superficial veins are between the

two layers of superficial fascia while the deep veins accompany the arteries.

Both sets of veins are provided with

valves more numerous in the deep than in the superficial set.

Small saphenous vein ( short saphenous vein) Begins behind the lateral malleolus as a continuation of the lateral marginal vein.

Ascends to reach the middle of the back of the leg.

It perforates the deep fascia at the popliteal fossa.

Ends in the popliteal vein. It has 9-12 valves

Tributaries -Branch from great

saphenous vein -Lateral marginal vein

- Numerous tributaries from the back of the leg.

The great saphenous vein (long saphenous vein) The longest vein in the body.

Begins in the medial marginal vein of the dorsum of the foot

Ends in the femoral vein about 3 cm below the inguinal ligament.

It passes in front of the medial malleolus and along the medial side of the leg behind the medial condyles of the tibia and femur and along the medial side of the thigh to end in the femoral vein.

 It possesses 10-20 valves.

Tributaries:-medial marginal vein-numerous cutaneous vein-superficial circumflex iliac

-superficial external pudendal also communicates with anterior and

posterior tibial veins and the small saphenous vein

Deep veins They accompany the arteries and their branches.

They possess numerous valves. The deep plantar venous arch lies alongside the plantar arterial arch drains into the medial and lateral plantar veins

The posterior tibial vein accompanies the posterior tibial artery and joined by the peroneal vein.

The anterior tibial vein is the upward continuation of the venæ comitantes of the dorsalis pedis artery. They leave the front of the leg by passing between the tibia and fibula, over the interosseous membrane, and unite with the posterior tibial vein to form the popliteal vein. 

Popliteal veinFormed by union of

venae comitantes of ant, post tibial arteries.

At the lower border of popliteus.

Continues as femoral vein at adductor opening.

TRIBUTARIES: 1- Veins accompany

arteries. 2- Small saphenous v.

The femoral vein accompanies the

femoral artery through the upper 2/3rd of the thigh. It receives many muscular tributaries, and about 4 cm below the inguinal ligament is joined by the deep femoral vein and is joined by the great saphenous vein before it terminates. The deep femoral vein receives tributaries corresponding to the perforating branches of the profunda artery. It also receives the medial and lateral femoral circumflex veins.   

Veins of the sole of the footVeins of the Sole of the Foot:Medial and lateral plantar veins

accompany the corresponding arteries, and they unite behind the medial malleolus to form the posterior tibial venae commitantes

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