Femoral artery

Arteria femoralis

Continuation of the external iliac artery as it passes deep to the inguinal ligament at the mid-inguinal point. It descends through the femoral triangle and adductor canal, giving off the profunda femoris (deep femoral) artery. It passes through the adductor hiatus to become the popliteal artery.

Type Vessel
Système corporel Cardiovascular
Région corporelle Thigh
Structure parente artery
Nom latin Arteria femoralis
FMA ID 70248

Fonction

The main arterial supply to the lower limb. Provides blood to the thigh muscles and continues as the popliteal artery to supply the leg and foot.

Signification clinique

Femoral artery access is used for cardiac catheterization and angiography. Femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is a complication of catheterization. The femoral pulse is palpated at the mid-inguinal point. Peripheral artery disease commonly affects the femoral vessels.

Questions fréquentes

What is the primary role of the femoral artery?
The femoral artery is the main arterial supply to the lower limb. It begins as a continuation of the external iliac artery below the inguinal ligament and travels down the thigh, supplying blood to the thigh muscles through its branches. It then continues as the popliteal artery behind the knee to supply the leg and foot.
Where is the femoral pulse palpated and why is this site important?
The femoral pulse is palpated at the mid-inguinal point, midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic symphysis, where the artery lies just below the inguinal ligament. This is a critical site in emergency medicine for assessing circulation and for performing arterial access procedures. The femoral triangle provides a reliable landmark for locating the artery.
Why is the femoral artery commonly used for cardiac catheterization?
The femoral artery is large, accessible, and easily compressible after a procedure, making it an ideal access site for cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. A catheter introduced through the femoral artery can be advanced through the aorta to reach the coronary arteries or heart chambers. Radial artery access has become more common in recent years due to lower complication rates.
What is a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm?
A pseudoaneurysm is a collection of blood outside the arterial wall, contained by surrounding tissues rather than the arterial wall itself. It forms when there is incomplete sealing of the arteriotomy site after catheterization. Unlike a true aneurysm, the wall is not composed of arterial layers. It presents as a pulsatile groin mass and can be treated with ultrasound-guided compression or thrombin injection.
How does peripheral artery disease affect the femoral artery?
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) commonly affects the femoral and popliteal arteries through atherosclerotic plaque buildup, which narrows the vessel lumen and reduces blood flow to the leg. This causes intermittent claudication—calf pain with walking that resolves with rest—and in severe cases can lead to rest pain, ulcers, and gangrene requiring limb amputation.

Structures associées

pericardial sac pericardium artery arterial subtree proepicardium proepicardial cluster pulmonary capillary plexus capillary network of lung pulmonary lymphatic vessel lymphatic vessel of lung pulmonary lymph node intrapulmonary lymph node pulmonary vascular system pulmonary circulatory system pericardial cavity cavitas pericardiaca

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Educational Disclaimer

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Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.