Femoral artery

The femoral artery represents the continuation of the external iliac artery beyond the inguinal ligament underneath which the vessel passes The vessel passes under the inguinal ligament just medial of the midpoint of this ligament, • The common femoral artery (CFA) is located between the inferior margin of the inguinal ligament, and the branching point of the profunda femoris artery. Its first three or four centimetres are enclosed, with the femoral vein, in the femoral sheath. In typical anatomy , the common femoral artery lies anterior to the femoral vein in the upper thigh. Highly calcific arterial stenosis in the CFA is very difficult to treat by endovascular intervention. Stent positioning in CFA may be limited by compressive or torsional forces, leading to stent fracture and/or restenosis. is a designation for the segment between the branching point of the profunda femoris and the adductor hiatus, passing through the subsartorial canal. However, this term is not listed in Terminologia Anatomica, and usage of the term superficial femoral is discouraged by many physicians because it leads to confusion among general medical practitioners, at least for the femoral vein that courses next to the femoral artery. In particular, the adjacent femoral vein is clinically a deep vein, where deep vein thrombosis indicates anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy, but the adjective "superficial" leads many physicians to falsely believe it is a superficial vein, which has resulted in patients with femoral thrombosis being denied proper treatment. Therefore, the segment is alternatively termed the subsartorial artery. The segment enters the adductor hiatus and becomes the popliteal artery which goes through the popliteal fossa. is a small branch that runs up to the region of the anterior superior iliac spine. • The superficial epigastric artery is a small branch that crosses the inguinal ligament and runs to the region of the umbilicus. • The superficial external pudendal artery is a small branch that runs medially to supply the skin of the scrotum or labium majus as. • The deep external pudendal artery runs medially and supplies the skin of the scrotum or labium majus. • The deep femoral artery is a large and important branch that arises from the lateral side of the femoral artery about 1.5 in. (4 cm) below the inguinal ligament. It passes medially behind the femoral vessels and enters the medial fascial compartment of the thigh. It ends by becoming the fourth perforating artery. At its origin, it gives off the medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries, and during its course it gives off three perforating arteries. Superficial femoral artery • The descending genicular artery is a small branch that arises from the femoral artery near its termination within the adductor canal. It assists in supplying the knee joint. ==Clinical significance==

Clinical examination The site for optimally palpating the femoral pulse is in the inner thigh, at the mid-inguinal point, halfway between the pubic symphysis and anterior superior iliac spine. Presence of a femoral pulse indicates a systolic blood pressure of more than 50 mmHg. Vascular access Femoral artery is the frequent site of access in angiography. As the pulsation of the common femoral artery can often be palpated through the skin; and the site of maximum pulsation is used as a point of puncture for catheter access. From here, wires and catheters can be directed anywhere in the arterial system for intervention or diagnostics, including the heart, brain, kidneys, arms and legs. The direction of the needle in the femoral artery can be against blood flow (retro-grade), for intervention and diagnostic towards the heart and opposite leg, or with the flow (ante-grade or ipsi-lateral) for diagnostics and intervention on the same leg. Access in either the left or right femoral artery is possible and depends on the type of intervention or diagnostic. To image the lower limb vascular anatomy, the common femoral artery (CFA) is chosen as the site of entry. However, CFA entry can only be assessed by retrograde puncture. Therefore, a catheter is advanced retrogradely through the contralateral common femoral artery into common iliac artery, crossing the midline into ipsilateral CFA. The SFA can then be assessed by antegrade puncture. The femoral artery can be used to draw arterial blood when the blood pressure is so low that the radial or brachial arteries cannot be located. Peripheral arterial disease The femoral artery is susceptible to peripheral arterial disease. When it is blocked through atherosclerosis, percutaneous intervention with access from the opposite femoral may be needed. Endarterectomy, a surgical cut down and removal of the plaque of the femoral artery is also common. If the femoral artery has to be ligated surgically to treat a popliteal aneurysm, blood can still reach the popliteal artery distal to the ligation via the genicular anastomosis. However, if flow in the femoral artery of a normal leg is suddenly disrupted, blood flow distally is rarely sufficient. The reason for this is the fact that the genicular anastomosis is only present in a minority of individuals and is always undeveloped when disease in the femoral artery is absent. ==See also==

Gray546.png|Structures passing behind the inguinal ligament. (Femoral artery labeled at upper right.) File:Gray344.png|Cross-section showing structures surrounding right hip-joint. File:Gray545.png|Femoral sheath laid open to show its three compartments. File:Gray550.png|The femoral artery. File:Gray1146.png|The spermatic cord in the inguinal canal. File:Gray1245.png|Front of right thigh, showing surface markings for bones, femoral artery and femoral nerve. File:Thigh arteries.svg|Femoral artery and its major branches - right thigh, anterior view. File:Blausen 0607 LegArteries.png|Illustration depicting main leg arteries (anterior view). File:Slide2888.JPG|Femoral artery - deep dissection. File:Slide4888.JPG|Femoral artery - deep dissection. ==External links==