4. ARTERIES
Femoral Artery
It corresponds to the upper two-thirds of a
line joining the following two points.
• Midinguinal point: A point midway between
the anterior superior iliac spine and the
pubic symphysis.
• Adductortubercle:
Itliesatthelowerendofthecord- like tendon of
the adductor magnus. The tendon can be felt
in a shallow groove just behind the
prominence of the vastus medialis when the
thigh is semiflexed, abducted and laterally
rotated.
5. Profunda Femoris Artery
First mark the femoral artery. The profunda
artery is then marked by joining the following
two points on the femoral artery.
•Point 1: 3.5 cm below the
midinguinal point.
•Point 2: 10 cm below the
midinguinal point.
The artery is slightly convex
laterally in its upper part.
6. Popliteal Artery
It is marked by joining the following
points
• Point 1: At the junction of the middle
and lower thirds of the thigh, 2.5 cm
medial to the midline on
the back of the limb.
• Point 2: On the midline of the back of
the knee.
• Point 3: On the midline of the back of
leg at the level of the tibial tuberosity.
7. Superior Gluteal Artery
Mark the following points
• Point 1: At the posterior superior iliac spine.
• Point 2: At the apex of the greater trochanter.
The superior gluteal artery enters the gluteal region at the
junction of the upper and middle thirds of the line joining
points 1 and 2.
Inferior Gluteal Artery
Mark the following points
• Point 1: Posterior superior iliac spine.
• Point 3: Ischial tuberosity.
Then mark a third point 2.5 cm lateral to the midpoint
of the line joining points 2 and 3.
The sciatic nerve enters the gluteal region at this
point. The inferior gluteal artery appears just medial
to the entry of the sciatic nerve.
8. Anterior Tibial Artery
It is marked by joining the
points 1 and 2.
• Point 1: 2.5 cm below the
medial side of the head of
the fibula.
• Point 2: Midway between
the two malleoli.
The artery passes downwards
and slightly medially .
9. Posterior Tibial Artery
It is marked by joining the following
points
• Point 3: On the midline of the
back of the leg at the
level of the tibial tuberosity.
• Point 4: Midway between the
medial malleolus and
the tendocalcaneus
10. Dorsalis Pedis Artery
It is marked by joining the
following two points :
• Point 2: Midway between the
two malleoli.
• Point 3: At the proximal end of
the first inter- metatarsal space.
11. Medial Plantar Artery
It is marked by joining the following two points
• Point 1: Midway between the medial malleolus
and the prominence of the heel.
• Point 2: On the navicular bone which lies midway
between the back of the heel and the root of the
big toe. The artery runs in the direction of the
first interdigital cleft.
Lateral Plantar Artery
Point 1: Midway between the medial malleolus and
the prominence of the heel.
•Point 3: 2.5 cm medial to the tuberosity of
the fifth metatarsal bone.
12. Plantar Arch
•It is marked by joining the following two
points
•Point 3: 2.5 cm medial to the
tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal
bone.
•Point 4: At the proximal end of the
first intermeta- tarsal space, 2.5 cm
distal to the tuberosity of the
navicular bone.
The arch is slightly curved with its
convexity directed forwards.
13. Femoral Vein
Its marking is same as that of the
femoral artery, except that the upper
point is taken 1 cm medial to the
midinguinal point, and the lower point
1 cm lateral to the adductor tubercle.
The vein is medial to the artery at the
upper end, posterior to it in the
middle, and lateral to it at the lower
end.
14. Great Saphenous Vein
•It can be marked by joining the following points,
although it is easily visible in living subjects .
•Point 1: On the dorsum of the foot at the medial
end of the dorsal venous arch.
•Point 2: On the anterior surface of the medial
malleolus.
•Point 3: On the medial border of the tibia at the
junction of the upper two-thirds and lower one-
third of the leg.
•Point 4: At the adductor tubercle.
•Point 5: Just below the centre of the saphenous
opening
15. Small Saphenous Vein
It can be marked by joining the following points,
although this vein is also easily visible in its
lower part .
•Point 1: On the dorsum of the foot at the
lateral end of the dorsal venous arch.
•Point 2: Behind the lateral malleolus.
•Point 3: Just lateral to the tendocalcaneus
above the lateral malleolus.
•Point 4: At the centre of the popliteal
fossa.
16. Femoral Nerve
It is marked by joining the
following two points.
• Point 1: 1.2 cm lateral to the
midinguinal point.
• Point 2: 2.5 cm vertically
below the first point
17. Sciatic Nerve
• Point I: 2.5 cm lateral to the midpoint
between the posterior superior iliac spine
and the ischial tuberosity .
•Point II: Just medial to the midpoint
between the ischial tuberosity and the
greater trochanter.
•Point III: In the midline of the back of
the thigh at the junction of its upper
two-thirds and lower one- third, i.e. at
the apex of the popliteal fossa.
18. Tibial Nerve
• Point 1: In the midline of back of the thigh at
the junction of its upper two-thirds and lower
one- third, i.e. at the apex of the popliteal
fossa.
• Point 2: In the midline of back of the leg at
the level of tibial tuberosity .
• Point 3: Midway between the medial
malleolus and tendocalcaneus.
The line joining (1) and (2) represents the
tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa, and the line
joining (2) and (3) represents it in the back of
the leg.
19. Common Peroneal Nerve
• Point 1: At the apex of the
popliteal fossa
• Point 2: On the back of
the neck of the fibula.
At the lower end, the nerve
turns forwards and ends
deep to the upper fibres of
the peroneus longus.
20. Nerve
• Point 1: On the lateral aspect of the
neck of the fibula
• Point 2: In front of the ankle,
midway between the two malleoli
where it divides into 2 branches.
Medial branch runs till 1st
interosseous space.
The nerve lies lateral to the anterior
tibial artery in its upper and lower
thirds, but anterior to the artery in its
middle third.
21. Superficial Peroneal
Nerve
•Point1: On the lateral aspect of the
neck of the fibula .
•Point 4: On the anterior border of
the peroneus longus at the
junction of the upper two-thirds
and lower one-third of the leg.
•At the lower point, the nerve
pierces the deep fascia and divides
into medial and lateral branches.
