Vessels of Lower Limb

Question 1

Which artery supplies the lower limb?

Answer 1

the external iliac

Question 2

Where does the external iliac change its name to the femoral artery?

Answer 2

at the inguinal ligament

Question 3

Where does the femoral artery changes its name to the popliteal artery?

Answer 3

as it goes through the adductor hiatus

Question 4

Where does the popliteal artery divide and what does it divide into?

Answer 4

divides at the inferior border of popliteus into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries

Question 5

Where does the fibular artery come from?

Answer 5

branches off the posterior tibial artery 1 inch after it divided from the popliteal artery

Question 6

What is the profunda femoris?

Answer 6

a branch of the femoral artery which sits deep on adductor magnus and sends off branches through the holes in adductor magnus

Question 7

What is the lateral femoral circumflex artery?

Answer 7

a branch of profunda femoris which supplies the the head and neck of the femur

Question 8

What are the genicular anastamoses?

Answer 8

branches of the popliteal artery which supply the knee joint

Question 9

What is the femoral canal?

Answer 9

a dead space in the femoral sheath which the femoral vein can expand into

Question 10

What are the borders of the femoral canal?

Answer 10

laterally - the femoral vein, medially - the lacunar ligament, anteriorly - the inguinal ligament, posteriorly - pectineus

Question 11

What is a femoral hernia?

Answer 11

where the abdominal contents pass through the femoral canal

Question 12

Where does the anterior tibial artery run in the leg?

Answer 12

along the anterior aspect of the interosseus membrane

Question 13

Where does the anterior tibial artery become dorsalis pedis?

Answer 13

at the dorsum of the foot

Question 14

What is compartment syndrome?

Answer 14

because of the fascia of the compartments of the leg - a bleed and swelling in one compartment will lead to compression of the neurovascular structures which will produce ischaemia - the symptoms are palor, pain, pulselessness, paraesthesia and paralysis

Question 15

Where are there paired vena comitantes in the leg?

Answer 15

below the level of the popliteal fossa

Question 16

Where does the great saphenous vein travel?

Answer 16

on the medial side of the lower limb - comes from the medial side of the dorsal venous arch, goes in front of the medial malleolus, travels up the leg, goes a hands breadth behind the patella at the knee, up the medial side of the thigh then pierces the fascia at the saphenous opening to join the femoral vein

Question 17

Where does the short saphenous vein travel?

Answer 17

comes off the lateral side of the dorsal venous arch, goes behind the lateral malleolus, travels up the back of the leg, joins the anterior and posterior tibial veins to become the popliteal vein

Question 18

What are varicose veins?

Answer 18

engorged and torturous superficial veins due to incompetent valves

Question 19

What are the branches of the posterior tibial artery?

Answer 19

fibular and medial and lateral plantar arteries