Femoral artery

Femoral Artery

The femoral artery.

The Femoral Artery is a large artery in the thigh and the main arterial supply to the leg. It enters the thigh from the abdomen through the femoral triangle where it can be palpated.

Anatomy

The femoral artery is a continuation of the external iliac artery and becomes the femoral artery when it crosses under the inguinal ligament and enters the femoral triangle. It ends at the adductor hiatus, an opening in the adductor magnus muscle, where it becomes the popliteal artery.

Branches

The femoral artery gives off several branches, including:

• Superficial epigastric artery
• Superficial circumflex iliac artery
• Superficial external pudendal artery
• Deep artery of thigh
• Descending genicular artery

Clinical significance

The femoral artery is often used as a catheter access site in procedures such as angiography or angioplasty. It is also a common site for arterial puncture in measuring blood gases.

See also

• Femoral vein
• Femoral nerve
• Femoral hernia