Femoral vessel

Major blood vessels of the thigh

The femoral vessels are the major blood vessels located in the thigh region of the human body. They consist of the femoral artery and the femoral vein, which are crucial for supplying blood to and from the lower limb.

Femoral Artery

Diagram of the femoral artery and vein

The femoral artery is a large artery in the thigh and the main arterial supply to the lower limb. It is a continuation of the external iliac artery and begins at the inguinal ligament. The artery travels down the thigh, passing through the femoral triangle, and continues as the popliteal artery at the adductor hiatus.

Branches

The femoral artery gives off several branches, including:

• The superficial epigastric artery
• The superficial circumflex iliac artery
• The superficial external pudendal artery
• The deep artery of the thigh (profunda femoris artery)
• The descending genicular artery

Clinical Significance

The femoral artery is often used as an access point for various medical procedures, such as angiography and cardiac catheterization. Due to its superficial location, it is also a common site for arterial puncture and bleeding in traumatic injuries.

Femoral Vein

The femoral vein accompanies the femoral artery and is responsible for draining deoxygenated blood from the lower limb back to the heart. It begins at the adductor canal as a continuation of the popliteal vein and ascends through the thigh, eventually becoming the external iliac vein at the inguinal ligament.

Tributaries

The femoral vein receives blood from several tributaries, including:

• The great saphenous vein
• The deep vein of the thigh (profunda femoris vein)
• The superficial epigastric vein
• The superficial circumflex iliac vein
• The superficial external pudendal vein

Clinical Significance

The femoral vein is a common site for venous access in medical procedures, such as the insertion of central venous catheters. It is also a site where deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can occur, which can lead to serious complications if not treated promptly.

Femoral Triangle

The femoral triangle is an anatomical region of the upper thigh that is shaped like a triangle. It is bounded by the inguinal ligament superiorly, the sartorius muscle laterally, and the adductor longus muscle medially. The femoral triangle contains the femoral nerve, artery, vein, and lymphatics.

Related Pages

• Thigh
• Inguinal ligament
• Popliteal artery
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Cardiac catheterization