What is the femoral artery and where does it come from?

The femoral artery is the main arterial supply to the lower limb. It is a direct continuation of the external iliac artery, entering the thigh behind the inguinal ligament at the midinguinal point.

What is the course of the femoral artery through the thigh?

It descends through the femoral triangle, adductor canal, and adductor hiatus. After exiting the hiatus, it becomes the popliteal artery in the popliteal fossa.

What are the main branches of the femoral artery?

Branches include superficial branches like the superficial epigastric artery, deep branches such as the profunda femoris artery, and in the adductor canal, the descending genicular artery with its articular and saphenous branches.

Why is the femoral artery important for clinical procedures?

Its superficial location in the femoral triangle makes it ideal for procedures like arterial cannulation, angiography, and coronary interventions. It can also be palpated for pulses and compressed to control bleeding.

How is the femoral artery surface-marked on the body?

With the thigh slightly flexed, abducted, and laterally rotated, draw a line from the midinguinal point to the adductor tubercle. The upper two-thirds of this line represent the artery's course.

What is the difference between the common and superficial femoral artery?

Some surgeons use these terms anatomically: the common femoral artery refers to the segment proximal to the origin of the profunda femoris artery, and the superficial femoral artery is its continuation distally.

Femoral Artery – Course, Branches & Clinical Use