Overview
This lecture provides a broad overview of the arterial blood supply to the lower limb, tracing major arteries from the abdomen to the foot.
Major Arteries of the Lower Limb
- The abdominal aorta splits into right and left common iliac arteries.
- Each common iliac artery divides into internal and external iliac arteries.
- Internal iliac arteries supply pelvic structures and the gluteal region; key branches include obturator and inferior gluteal arteries.
- External iliac artery becomes the common femoral artery after passing under the inguinal ligament.
Femoral Artery and Branches
- The common femoral artery gives off the profunda femoris (deep femoral) artery and continues as the superficial femoral artery (SFA).
- Profunda femoris artery has lateral and medial circumflex branches; terminates as perforating branches through the adductor magnus muscle.
- SFA travels through the adductor canal and passes through the adductor hiatus into the posterior thigh.
Popliteal and Tibial Arteries
- After the adductor hiatus, the SFA becomes the popliteal artery behind the knee.
- Popliteal artery gives off genicular branches to the knee joint and splits into anterior and posterior tibial arteries.
- Posterior tibial artery descends behind deep posterior leg muscles and gives off the fibular (peroneal) artery to the lateral compartment.
- Anterior tibial artery travels to the anterior compartment, becoming the dorsalis pedis artery in the foot.
Arterial Supply of the Foot
- Posterior tibial artery enters the foot via the tarsal tunnel and splits into medial and lateral plantar arteries.
- Dorsalis pedis artery gives off the deep plantar artery, which joins with a branch of the lateral plantar artery to form the deep plantar arch.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Abdominal aorta — main artery descending from the heart, splitting into iliac arteries.
- Common iliac artery — divides into internal and external iliac branches.
- Internal iliac artery — supplies pelvis and gluteal region.
- External iliac artery — continues as the femoral artery in the thigh.
- Profunda femoris artery — deep branch of the femoral artery, supplies the thigh.
- Superficial femoral artery (SFA) — main artery through the thigh.
- Popliteal artery — continuation of femoral artery behind the knee.
- Anterior tibial artery — supplies the anterior leg and foot dorsum.
- Posterior tibial artery — supplies the posterior leg and plantar foot.
- Dorsalis pedis artery — continuation of anterior tibial artery in the foot.
- Plantar arch — arterial arch on the sole of the foot.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review detailed tutorials on branches of the internal iliac and femoral arteries as assigned.