Common femoral artery

Common Femoral Artery

The common femoral artery. (Image from Gray's Anatomy)

The Common Femoral Artery (CFA) is a large artery found in the groin region. It is a continuation of the external iliac artery and is a key component of the circulatory system.

Anatomy

The CFA begins at the level of the inguinal ligament and ends at the lower border of the adductor magnus muscle, where it splits into the superficial femoral artery and deep femoral artery. It is located in the femoral triangle, which is an area of the upper thigh.

Branches

The CFA gives off several branches, including:

• Superficial epigastric artery
• Superficial circumflex iliac artery
• Superficial external pudendal artery
• Deep artery of thigh
• Superficial femoral artery

Clinical significance

The CFA is often used as an access point for various interventional radiology and cardiology procedures. It is also a common site of atherosclerosis, which can lead to peripheral artery disease.

See also

• Femoral artery
• Femoral vein
• Femoral nerve