Vessel
Femoral artery
Main artery of the lower limb
High-yield
Enters the femoral triangle inside the femoral sheath, lateral to the vein (NAVEL). Its pulse is a common access point for angiography.
Overview
The continuation of the external iliac artery in the thigh that supplies the lower limb and passes through the adductor hiatus to become the popliteal artery.
Reference facts
- Type
Muscular artery
- Origin
External iliac artery (deep to the inguinal ligament)
- Branches / tributaries
Deep femoral (profunda femoris) artery; Superficial epigastric; Superficial and deep external pudendal; Descending genicular arteries
- Supplies
The lower limb
- Course
Descends through the femoral triangle and adductor canal, passing through the adductor hiatus to become the popliteal artery