Femoral Artery

Description

Running from the external iliac artery beneath the inguinal ligament, the femoral artery descends in the femoral triangle, lying anterior to the iliopsoas and pectineus and positioned lateral to the femoral vein proximally. Medially in the proximal thigh, the profunda femoris artery (deep artery of the thigh) branches from the femoral artery and gives perforating branches that pass posteriorly toward the adductor compartment. Distally, the femoral vessels track through the adductor canal, with the artery becoming more posterior as it approaches the adductor hiatus en route to the popliteal fossa. Superficial drainage pathways, including the great saphenous vein, parallel the medial thigh before joining the femoral vein near the saphenofemoral junction. This longitudinal course is the one you need when teaching palpation landmarks and access sites. The common femoral artery is the target for arterial puncture and endovascular sheath placement, and a high puncture above the inguinal ligament risks retroperitoneal hemorrhage while a low puncture increases pseudoaneurysm formation in the femoral triangle. In the adductor canal, the close packing of femoral artery and vein explains why expanding hematoma, penetrating trauma, or iatrogenic injury can compromise both arterial inflow and venous outflow, and why distal pulses may change as the vessel transitions to the popliteal artery. Use this plate in gross anatomy or vascular surgery modules to orient learners to the femoral triangle, the profunda femoris origin, and the femoral artery’s transition through the adductor canal toward the popliteal segment, and in clinical education materials covering femoral catheterization, arterial line placement, and lower limb ischemia pathways. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.