Course name: Anatomy II

Angiology Lower Limb

Dr Mehreen Jabbar, PT
ARTERIES OF THE PELVIS &
LOWER LIMBS
 The abdominal aorta ends by dividing into
the right and left common iliac arteries.
 Then divide into the internal and
external iliac arteries.
 The external iliac become the femoral
arteries in the thighs, the popliteal arteries
posterior to the knee and the anterior and
posterior tibial arteries in the legs.
 Arteries of the Lower Limb

Branches to the lower limb arise from external iliac branch

of the common iliac artery
COMMON ILIAC ARTERIES
 At about the level of the fourth lumbar
vertebra, the abdominal aorta divides into
the right and left common iliac arteries,
the terminal branches of the abdominal
aorta.
 Each passes inferiorly about 5 cm and

gives rise to two branches : internal iliac &

external iliac arteries.
 The general distribution of the common iliac arteries
is to the pelvis, external genital and lower limbs.
 Internal iliac arteries
• The internal iliac (hypogastric) arteries are the
primary arteries of the pelvis.
• Begin at the bifurcation (division into 2
branches) of the common iliac arteries anterior
to the sacroiliac joint at the level of the
lumbosacral intelvertebral disc.

• They pass posteromedially as they descend in

the pelvis and divide into anterior and posterior
divisions.

• The general distribution of the internal iliac

arteries is to the pelvis, buttocks, external
genitals & thigh.
 External iliac arteries
• Are larger than the internal iliac arteries.
They begin at the bifurcation of the
common iliac arteries.
• They descend along the medial
border of psoas major muscles
following the pelvis brim, pass
posterior to the midportion of the
inguinal ligaments, and become the
femoral arteries.

External iliac arteries
• The general distribution of the external
iliac arteries is to the lower limbs.

• Branches of the external iliac arteries

supply the muscles of the anterior
abdominal wall, the cremaster muscle
in males and the round ligament of the
uterus in females and the lower limbs.
 Femoral arteries
• Descend along the anteromedial aspects
of the thigh to the junction of the middle
and lower third of the thighs.

• Here they pass through an opening in

the tendon of the adductor magnus
muscle, they emerge posterior to the
femurs as the popliteal arteries.

• A pulse may be felt in the femoral artery

where just inferior to the inguinal
ligament.
Femoral arteries
• The femoral artery along with the femoral vein
and nerve and deep inguinal lymph nodes are
located in the femoral triangle.

The general distribution of the femoral arteries

is to the lower abdominal wall, groin, external
genitals and muscles of the thigh : quadriceps
femoris, adductors, and hamstrings.
 Popliteal arteries
 Are the continuation of the femoral arteries
through the popliteal fossa.

 They descend to the inferior border of the

popliteus muscles, where they divide into the
anterior and posterior arteries. A pulse may be
detected in the popliteal arteries.

 Supply the adductor magnus and hamstring

muscles and the skin on the posterior aspect of the
legs. Also supply the gastrocnemius, solues, and
plantaris muscles of the calf, knee joint, femur,
patella and fibula.
 Anterior tibial arteries
 Descend from the bifurcation of the popliteal
arteries. They are smaller than the posterior tibial
arteries.

 The anterior tibial arteries descend through the

anterior muscular compartment of the leg. They
pass through the interosseous membrane that
connect tibia and fibula, lateral to the tibia

 Also supply the knee joints, anterior

compartment muscles of the legs, skin over the
anterior aspect of the legs and ankle joints.
 Anterior tibial arteries

 At the ankle, the anterior tibial arteries become

the dorsal arteries of the foot (dorsalis pedis
arteries).

 A pulse in the artery may be taken to evaluate

the peripheral vascular system.

 The dorsal arteries of the foot supply the muscles,

skin and joints on the dorsal aspect of the feet.
 Anterior tibial arteries
On the dorsum of the feet, the dorsal arteries of
the foot give off a transverse branch at the first
(medial) cuneiform bone called the arcuate
arteries that run laterally over the bases of the
metatarsals.

Fromthe arcuate arteries branch the dorsal

metatarsal arteries, which supply the feet.

Thedorsal metatarsal arteries terminate by

dividing into dorsal digital arteries, which
supply the toes.
 Posterior tibial arteries
Thedirect continuation of the popliteal arteries,
descend from the bifurcation of the popliteal
arteries.

They pass down the posterior muscular

compartment of the legs posterior to the medial
malleolus of the tibia. They terminate by
dividing into the medial and lateral plantar
arteries.

Their
general distribution is to the muscles,
bones and joints of the leg and foot.
 Posterior tibial arteries
Major branches of the posterior tibial arteries are
the fibular (peroneal) arteries, which supply the
fibularis, solues, tibialis posterior and flexor
hallucis muscles.

Theyalso supply the fibula, tarsus and lateral

aspect of the heel.

The bifurcation of the posterior tibial arteries into

the medial and lateral plantar arteries occurs
deep to the flexor retinaculum on the medial side
of the feet.
 Posterior tibial arteries

The medial plantar arteries supply the abductor

hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis muscles and
the toes.
The lateral plantar arteries unite with a branch
of the dorsal arteries of the foot to form the
plantar arch. The arch begins at the base of the
fifth metatarsal and extends medially across the
metacarpals.
As the arch crosses the foot, it gives off plantar
metatarsal arteries, which supply the feet.
These terminate by dividing into plantar digital
arteries, which supply the toes.
 Abdominal aorta

Right Left
common
common
iliac
iliac

Right external Right internal

iliac iliac

Right femoral
Right
deep artery of the tigh (deep peroneal)
Right popliteal
 Right popliteal

Right anterior tibial Right posterior tibial

Right fibular (peroneal)

Right dorsal artery of the

foot (dorsalis pedis)
Right lateral Right medial
plantar plantar
Right arcuate
Right plantar

Right dorsal
metatarsal metatarsal

Right dorsal
digital Right plantar
digital
 Arterial Pressure Points

Some major arteries close to surface -- allows palpation

for pulse and serve as pressure points to reduce arterial
bleeding