The femoral artery, initially depicted in Gray’s Anatomy in 1910, has been a subject of interest in the medical field. However, due to its complex nature, a complete dissection of this artery was not possible to illustrate at the time. The femoral artery is a significant blood vessel primarily found in the thigh region, playing a crucial role in supplying blood to the leg. Interestingly, as it reaches the back of the knee, the femoral artery transforms into the popliteal artery.
External Iliac Artery
The external iliac artery is a branch of the common iliac artery and is responsible for supplying blood to the pelvic organs and the gluteal region. It originates from the common iliac artery and travels along the psoas major, a long muscle that is connected to the lumbar spine and runs along the pelvic edge.
As it progresses, the external iliac artery gives rise to two important branches – the inferior epigastric artery and the deep circumflex artery. These branches play a crucial role in providing blood supply to the lower abdomen.
Upon reaching the inguinal ligament, which is located on each side of the body, the external iliac artery transforms into the femoral artery, which continues to supply blood to the lower extremities.
Femoral Triangle: A Vital Region in the Upper Thigh
The femoral triangle, also known as Scarpa’s triangle, is a significant area located in the upper thigh. It is enclosed by the sartorius muscle, the longest muscle in the body, the adductor longus muscles, and the inguinal ligament at its apex. The femoral triangle holds great importance due to the presence of crucial structures that traverse through it, with one of the main components being the femoral artery. The branches of this artery originate from the base of the femoral triangle.