The femoral artery is the main blood vessel delivering oxygenated blood to the entire lower limb. Originating from a larger trunk in the pelvis, this artery follows a lengthy path down the thigh, making it one of the largest arteries in the human body. Its considerable diameter and consistent anatomical route underscore its importance in maintaining circulation. Understanding the course the femoral artery takes through the thigh is fundamental to anatomy and various medical applications.
The Starting Point: Entering the Thigh
The femoral artery begins as a continuation of the external iliac artery, passing beneath the inguinal ligament. This ligament marks the transition point for the vessel into the leg, forming a crease between the lower abdomen and the top of the thigh. At this initial stage, the artery is situated within the femoral triangle, an anatomical landmark in the groin region.
Within the femoral triangle, the artery is relatively superficial and easily accessible. It is positioned roughly midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic symphysis, allowing a physician to feel the strong pulse against the underlying bone. The artery is encased alongside the femoral vein in a protective fibrous sleeve called the femoral sheath, though the nearby femoral nerve remains outside this covering.
The Main Course: Traveling Down the Thigh
After its brief, superficial run in the groin, the artery begins its deep descent along the anteromedial side of the thigh. It soon gives off its largest branch, the deep femoral artery, which primarily supplies the muscles of the thigh. Distal to this branching point, the main trunk continues its course.
The artery then enters a muscular tunnel known as the Adductor Canal, or Hunter’s Canal, located in the middle third of the thigh. This canal is a protective pathway formed by surrounding muscles, including the adductor magnus, adductor longus, and vastus medialis. Traversing this sheltered route ensures the artery, along with the femoral vein and the saphenous nerve, is shielded from external compression or injury during movement.
Clinical Significance
The readily accessible location of the femoral artery in the groin makes it highly significant in clinical practice. Due to its large size and proximity to the skin in the femoral triangle, it is a primary site for checking the femoral pulse. Palpating this pulse can quickly confirm blood flow to the lower body and provide an indication of a person’s circulatory status.
The artery also serves as a common entry point for medical procedures requiring access to the body’s arterial system, a process known as percutaneous catheterization. Physicians frequently use the femoral artery to insert long, thin tubes (catheters) for diagnostic imaging like angiography or interventional procedures. This access is favored because the artery’s size allows for the insertion of larger instruments, and its location over the hard surface of the hip bone permits effective manual compression to control bleeding after the procedure.
The End Point: Transition to the Popliteal Artery
The femoral artery’s course through the thigh concludes in the distal portion of the limb as it prepares to enter the posterior compartment. To complete this transition, the vessel must exit the protective Adductor Canal by passing through a specific opening in the tendon of the adductor magnus muscle.
This opening is called the Adductor Hiatus, which represents the distal termination of the Adductor Canal. As the artery passes through this muscular gap, it moves from the anterior and medial thigh region to the space directly behind the knee joint. The moment the vessel successfully traverses the adductor hiatus, its name changes immediately to the Popliteal Artery, which continues to supply the structures of the knee and the rest of the lower leg.