- Arterial supply of the lower limb is mainly via the femoral artery and its continuations.
- Venous return passes through deep and superficial veins, linked by perforating veins, to the femoral and external iliac veins.
Arterial Supply: Principal Pathway
Principal arterial pathway of the lower limb
Artery
Femoral artery
- Origin / course
- Continuation of external iliac artery at midpoint of inguinal ligament; gives off profunda femoris (deep femoral) artery
- Supplies
- Profunda femoris supplies all structures of the thigh
- Continues as / divides into
- Continues as popliteal artery
Popliteal artery
- Origin / course
- Continuation of femoral artery into the popliteal fossa
- Supplies
- Popliteal fossa
- Continues as / divides into
- Divides at lower border of popliteus into anterior and posterior tibial arteries
Anterior tibial artery
- Origin / course
- Lies in anterior compartment of leg
- Supplies
- Anterior compartment of leg
- Continues as / divides into
- Continues as dorsalis pedis artery
Dorsalis pedis artery
- Origin / course
- Lies on dorsum of foot
- Supplies
- Dorsum of foot
- Continues as / divides into
- Terminal
Posterior tibial artery
- Origin / course
- Lies in posterior compartment of leg
- Supplies
- Posterior compartment of leg
- Continues as / divides into
- Divides behind medial malleolus into medial and lateral plantar arteries
Medial and lateral plantar arteries
- Origin / course
- Terminal branches of posterior tibial artery
- Supplies
- Sole of foot
- Continues as / divides into
- Terminal