
What is the blood supply to the lower limbs?
The arterial blood supply to the lower limbs is provided by blood vessels that originate from the right and left common iliac arteries. These arteries arise from the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta at the level of the L4 vertebra.
What is the major blood vessel in the thigh?
In the thigh, the external iliac artery continues as the major blood vessel that supplies the lower limb, namely, the femoral artery.
What is the main artery of the lower limb?
The main artery of the lower limb is the femoral artery. It is a continuation of the external iliac artery (terminal branch of the abdominal aorta). The external iliac becomes the femoral artery when it crosses under the inguinal ligament and enters the femoral triangle .
What is the blood supply to the bony pelvis?
The primary blood supply to the bony pelvis is from the divisions of iliac arteries while the lower limbs receive supply via obturator artery and divisions of the common femoral artery. The bony pelvis and lower limbs receive vascular supply from the distal continuations of right and left common iliac arteries.

Which vessels supply blood to the lower limb quizlet?
The external iliac artery is one of the branches of the common iliac artery in the pelvis. It is the main artery supplying the lower limb.
What blood vessel takes blood to the legs?
Near your pelvis, your aorta branches into two arteries that supply blood to your lower body and legs. The main vein in your body is the vena cava.
Which vessel drains blood from the lower leg?
Blood from your lower leg drains into your femoral vein, sometimes known as your superficial femoral vein. Your femoral vein then moves this blood into your external iliac vein.
How does blood flow to the legs?
Veins and arteries in your body are responsible for taking blood throughout your body. Veins take blood to your limbs and organs, while arteries bring oxygenated blood to the heart and rest of the body. Blood then goes back into the veins and the process starts again.
What happens if your femoral artery is blocked?
The arteries in your legs and feet can get blocked, just like the arteries in your heart. When this happens, less blood flows to your legs. This is called peripheral artery disease (PAD). If your leg arteries are badly blocked, you may develop foot pain while resting or a sore that won't heal.
What is the main vein that carries blood from your legs to your heart?
inferior vena cavaVeins become larger and larger as they get closer to the heart. The superior vena cava is the large vein that brings blood from the head and arms to the heart, and the inferior vena cava brings blood from the abdomen and legs into the heart.
What are the symptoms of a blocked artery in your leg?
What Are the Symptoms of a Blocked Artery in Your Leg?Painful cramping in one or both of your hips, thighs, or calf muscles after doing physical activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.Prolonged soreness on your feet, legs, and toes that don't heal or are very slow to heal.Discoloration of legs.More items...
How does blood travel from your heart to your limbs?
The one-way vascular system carries blood to all parts of your body. This process of blood flow within your body is called circulation. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from your heart, and veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to your heart.
Which artery supplies blood to the lower limbs?
The external iliac artery supplies all blood reaching the lower limbs. Blood drains from lower limb structures through deep and superficial veins that eventually empty into the external iliac vein.
What are the iliac arteries?
The lower limbs share some vessels with the pelvis. Common iliac arteries arising from the aorta divide into internal and external iliac arteries. The external iliac artery is the artery that supplies blood to the lower limbs. It forms four descending branches as it moves from the pectoral girdle. The pulse of the first, the upper thigh's femoral artery, can be felt at a spot called the femoral triangle. It branches into the deep femoral artery, which supplies the hamstring muscles, and the circumflex femoral arteries, which supply the femur and hamstrings. The femoral artery continues behind the knee as the popliteal artery, supplying the knee before branching into anterior and posterior tibial arteries. The anterior tibial extends into the anterior leg, lateral to the tibia. It supplies extensor muscles and then gives rise to two branches. The dorsal pedal artery crosses the ankle and foot dorsum (top), and the arcuate artery forms the foot's metatarsal arteries. The posterior tibial artery supplies flexor muscles in the midposterior leg and gives rise to three branches. The fibular (peroneal) artery supplies lateral peroneal muscles. The posterior tibial artery divides at the ankle into lateral and medial plantar arteries, which supply the foot's plantar surface. The plantar arch gives off the toes' digital arteries.
Which artery supplies blood to the lower extremities?
Femoral Artery. The largest and most significant artery that brings oxygenated blood to the entire lower extremity is the femoral artery. It gives off several branches throughout the thigh which supply the skin of the inguinal and the external genital areas, as well as some muscles of the thigh.
Which artery is the main blood supply for the anterior compartment of the leg?
The popliteal artery then splits into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries that travel all the way towards the foot. The anterior tibial artery is the main blood supply for the anterior compartment of the leg.
What arteries travel through the hip and thigh?
Hip and thigh. In addition to the femoral artery, there are several other important ones traveling through the hip and thigh: gluteal (superior and inferior), obturator, deep femoral, and descending genicular arteries. Arteries and nerves of the hip and thigh - anterior and posterior views.
What are the arteries in the hip and thigh?
Arteries and nerves of the hip and thigh - anterior and posterior views. The two gluteal arteries stem from the internal iliac arteries and supply blood to the piriformis, quadratus femoris, and gluteal muscles. In addition, they also supply the skin over the upper thigh and gluteal regions.
What is the deep arch of the foot?
The deep plantar arch supplies the structures of the sole, or underside of the foot, as well as the toes via branches named plantar metatarsal arteries. The arteries of the foot can be challenging to grasp, just like the major arteries, nerves and veins of the body.
What are the arteries of the foot?
When it comes to the arteries of the foot, there are several important candidates: dorsalis pedis artery /dorsal artery of the foot, plantar arteries (medial and lateral), tarsal arteries (medial and lateral), arcuate artery, dorsal metatarsal arteries, deep plantar arch, and plantar metatarsal arteries.
What arteries supply the metatarsals?
The tarsal, arcuate, and dorsal metatarsal arteries all stem from the dorsalis pedis artery. They supply the metatarsals, extensor digitorum brevis muscle, and the structures of the medial side of the foot. The dorsal metatarsal arteries also supply the toes via their branches called the dorsal digital arteries.
What is the arterial circulation of the lower limbs?
The arterial circulation (Fig. 8.1) begins with the external and internal iliac arteries. The internal iliac artery mostly supplies the pelvic organs, although its branches also contribute to the arterial circulation of the gluteal region and proximal thigh. The external iliac artery continues as the femoral artery after it passes the inguinal ligament. A large proximal branch, the deep femoral artery , not only supplies deeper structures of the anterior thigh but is also the main blood supply of the posterior thigh and the anastomosis around the hip joint. The continuation of the femoral artery (often referred to clinically as the superficial femoral artery) transitions to the popliteal artery as it passes through the adductor hiatus. Branches of both the femoral and popliteal arteries contribute to the anastomosis around the knee. The popliteal artery ultimately gives rise to the three main arteries that supply the leg in a region sometimes called the “trifurcation.” The posterior tibial artery is the continuation of the popliteal artery, beginning at the origin of the anterior tibial artery that branches from the anterior side of the popliteal. The anterior tibial passes between the tibia and fibula to supply the anterior leg. The fibular (peroneal) artery arises from the lateral aspect of the posterior tibial shortly after the origin of the anterior tibial. The fibular artery mostly supplies leg structures of the lateral compartment and some of the posterior compartment, and it ends by joining the anterior tibial in the distal anterior leg to contribute to the dorsalis pedis artery . Together, the fibular and anterior tibial arteries supply most of the dorsum of the foot, the lateral calcaneal region, and the deep plantar arch. The posterior tibial arteries pass posterior to the medial malleolus to reach the plantar surface of the foot where they give rise to the medial and lateral plantar arteries and the medial calcaneal artery.
Which artery supplies the anterior thigh with blood?
The external iliac artery continues as the femoral artery after it passes the inguinal ligament. A large proximal branch, the deep femoral artery , not only supplies deeper structures of the anterior thigh but is also the main blood supply of the posterior thigh and the anastomosis around the hip joint.
What is the accessory obturator artery?
In as many as 20 % of cases, there is a major artery, usually called the accessory obturator artery , arising from either the distal external iliac or the inferior epigastric. This wraps around the superior pubic ramus and usually anastomoses with the obturator artery but can entirely replace it.
What artery passes between the tibia and the fibula?
The anterior tibial passes between the tibia and fibula to supply the anterior leg. The fibular (peroneal) artery arises from the lateral aspect of the posterior tibial shortly after the origin of the anterior tibial.
Which nerve is accompanied by the deep branch of the iliac artery?
In its course, the deep branch is accompanied by the superior gluteal nerve. The inferior gluteal artery is a branch of the internal iliac artery that leaves the pelvis by passing between two of the upper sacral nerves and exiting the greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis muscle.
Which artery is the continuation of the femoral artery?
The continuation of the femoral artery (often referred to clinically as the superficial femoral artery) transitions to the popliteal artery as it passes through the adductor hiatus. Branches of both the femoral and popliteal arteri es contribute to the anastomosis around the knee.
How long are iliac arteries?
The common iliac arteries follow a course initially anteromedial and then medial to the psoas major muscles. They are usually around 4–5 cm long and end by dividing into internal and external iliac vessels . The external iliac vessels are the major supply to the lower limbs.
