Femoral artery

The femoral artery (s. femoralis) is a continuation of the external iliac artery, passes under the inguinal ligament (through the vascular lacuna) lateral to the vein of the same name, follows the iliopectineal groove downwards, being covered (in the femoral triangle) only by fascia and skin. In this place, the pulsation of the femoral artery can be felt, then the artery enters the adductor canal and leaves it in the popliteal fossa.

The following branches depart from the femoral artery:

1. The superficial epigastric artery (a. epigastrica superficialis) passes through the ethmoid fascia into the subcutaneous tissue, then goes up to the anterior abdominal wall; it supplies the lower part of the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle of the abdomen, the subcutaneous tissue and the skin. Located subcutaneously, the artery reaches the umbilical region, where it anastomoses with the branches of the superior epigastric artery (from the internal thoracic artery).
2. The superficial circumflex iliac artery (a. circumflexa iliaca superficialis) runs laterally parallel to the inguinal ligament to the anterior superior iliac spine, branches in the adjacent muscles, skin, and superficial inguinal lymph nodes. It anastomoses with the deep circumflex iliac artery (from the external iliac artery) and with the ascending branch of the lateral artery surrounding the femur.
3. The external genital arteries (aa. pudendae externae, 2-3 in total) exit through the subcutaneous gap (hiatus saphenus) under the skin of the thigh and give off the anterior genital branches (rr. scrotales anteriores) to the scrotum in men and the anterior labial branches (rr. labiales anteriores) to the labia majora in women.
4. The deep femoral artery (a. profunda femoris) is the largest branch of the femoral artery, originating from its posterior semicircle, 3-4 cm below the inguinal ligament. The artery initially runs laterally, then downwards and backwards (behind the femoral artery). Going backwards, the artery penetrates between the medial vastus muscle of the thigh and the adductor muscles, where its terminal branches end. The following arteries branch off from the deep femoral artery:
   1. The medial circumflex femoral artery (a. circumflexa femoris medialis) runs medially behind the femoral artery, goes deep between the iliopsoas and pectineus muscles, goes around the medial side of the femoral neck and gives off the ascending, transverse and deep branches. The transverse branch (r. transversus) goes to the long and short adductor muscles, the gracile and external obturator muscles. The ascending branch (r. ascendens) supplies blood to the muscles attached to the greater trochanter of the femur. The deep branch (r. profundus) passes posteriorly between the external obturator and quadratus muscles of the thigh, gives off muscle branches to the adductor muscles and the branch of the acetabulum (r. acetabularis), which goes to the capsule of the hip joint. The medial circumflex femoral artery anastomoses with branches of the obturator artery, the lateral circumflex femoral artery, and the right perforating artery (from the deep femoral artery);
   2. The lateral circumflex femoral artery (a. circumflexa femoris lateralis) branches off from the deep femoral artery at its very beginning, runs between the sartorius and rectus femoris muscles in front and the iliopsoas muscles behind. Near the greater trochanter of the femur, the artery divides into ascending and descending branches. The ascending branch (r. ascendens) supplies the gluteus maximus muscle and the tensor of the broad fascia, anastomosing with the branches of the gluteal arteries. The descending branch (r. descendens) supplies the sartorius and quadriceps muscles. Between the lateral and intermediate vastus muscles of the thigh it goes to the knee joint, anastomosing with the branches of the popliteal artery;
   3. The perforating arteries (aa. perforantes, first, second and third) are directed to the back of the thigh, where they supply the biceps, semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles. The first perforating artery passes to the back muscles of the thigh below the pectineus muscle, the second - below the short adductor muscle and the third - below the long adductor muscle. These arteries supply the muscles and skin of the back of the thigh, anastomosing with branches of the popliteal artery.
5. The descending genicular artery (a. descendens genicularis) departs from the femoral artery in the adductor canal, passes to the anterior surface of the thigh through the tendon gap of the adductor magnus muscle together with the subcutaneous nerve, then descends to the knee joint, where it takes part in the formation of the knee joint network (rete articulare genus).

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