anatomy of the blood supply of the lower limb

1. Blood supply of the lower
limb
By:Dr Suha Hussein

2. The arteries of pelvic region
 starts by bifurcation of the abdominal
aorta at level of L4 into:
1- right common iliac artery
2- left common iliac artery

4. Common iliac artery
 Then each common iliac artery divide
into:
1- internal iliac artery.
2- external iliac artery.
In front of the sacroiliac joint
 The internal iliac artery supply the
internal pelvic structures.
 The external iliac artery continue to
the lower limbs.

6. Branches of internal iliac
artery
 It divide into anterior and posterior
divisions at level of upper margin of
greater sciatic foramen

7.  The obturator artery
 It descends via the obturator canal to
enter the medial thigh, bifurcating into
two branches:
 Anterior branch – This supplies the
pectineus, obturator externus,
adductor muscles and gracilis.
 Posterior branch – This supplies
some of the deep gluteal muscles.

8.  superior and inferior gluteal arteries,
entering the gluteal region via the greater
sciatic foramen.
 The superior gluteal artery leaves the
foramen above the piriformis muscle, the
inferior below the muscle.
 In addition to the gluteal muscles, the
inferior gluteal artery also contributes
towards the vasculature of the posterior
thigh.

9. Arteries of the lower limbs
 The external iliac artery gives two
branches :
1- inferior epigasric artery
2-deep circumflex artery
And at the level of inguinal ligament
continue as femoral artery

11. Femoral artery
 Start at inguinal ligament and continue as
popliteal artery at adductor hiatus
 Branches includes:
1- superficial circumflex iliac artery
2-superficial epigastric artery
3-superficial external pudendal artery
4-deep external pudendal artery
5-profunda femoris artery, this gives:
A-medial and lateral femoral circumflex
B- 3 perforating branches and it continue as
the fourth perforating branch
6-descending genicular artery

13. Popliteal artery
 Start at adductor hiatus and ends at the
level of the lower border of the popliteus
muscle by dividing into anterior and
posterior tibial arteries.
 Branches:
1- superior medial geniculate artery
2- superior lateral GA
3- inferior medial GA
4- inferior lateral GA
5- Middle GA
6- Sural artery

15. Anterior Tibial Artery
 is the smaller of the terminal branches of
the popliteal artery.
 It arises at the level of the lower border
of the popliteus muscle and passes
forward into the anterior compartment of
the leg through an opening in the upper
part of the interosseous membrane .
 It descends on the anterior surface of the
interosseous membrane, accompanied
by the deep peroneal nerve

16.  Branches:
 1-anterior tibial recurrent artery
 2-muscular branches
 3-perforating branches
 4-anterior medial malleolar artery
 5-anterior lateral malleolar artery
 Continue as dorsalis pedis

18. Posterior tibial artery
 It begins at the level of the lower
border of the popliteus muscle
 Passes downward deep to the
gastrocnemius and soleus
 The artery passes behind the medial
malleolus deep to the flexor
retinaculum
 Continue as medial and lateral planter
arteries

19.  Branches:
 1-Peroneal artery(fibular):
Gives perforating branches to muscles
of lateral compartment
 2-Nutrient artery to the tibia.
 3-muscular branches
 4-Medial and lateral plantar arteries

21. Venous drainage of lower limb
 Deep veins
 Superficial veins:
1- small saphenous
2- great saphenous

22. Superfecial veins
 Small saphenous vein: arises from
the lateral part of the dorsal venous
arch of the foot.
 The vein pierces the deep fascia and
passes between the two heads of the
gastrocnemius and ends in the
popliteal vein.

24.  Great saphenous vein:
drains the medial end of the dorsal venous arch
of the foot and passes upward directly in front
of the medial malleolus
The vein passes behind the knee and curves
forward around the medial side of the thigh. It
passes through the lower part of the
saphenous
opening in the deep fascia and joins the
femoral vein.
Several perforating veins connect the great
saphenous vein with the deep veins along the
medial side of the calf

25. Deep veins
 Medial and lateral plantar veins
accompany the corresponding
arteries, form the posterior tibial venae
comitantes
 And then the veins will be
corresponding to the arteries