Blood Vessels and Circulation APR - Lab

Elastic lamellae

• Location: Walls of medium and large arteries

• Function: Provide elastic properties of some blood vessel walls

• Description: Wavy, fenestrated (perforated) sheets composed of the protein elastin

• Comment: Human aorta contains >40-50 elastic lamellae

Tunica externa of elastic artery

• Location: Outermost layer of vessel wall

• Function: Helps anchor blood vessel to surrounding structures

• Description:

  • Elastic and collagen fibers

  • Contains lymphatic capillaries, nutritive arteries (vasa vasorum), and small nerves

• Also known as:

  • Tunica adventitia of elastic artery

Tunica intima of elastic artery

• Location: Innermost layer of vessel wall

• Function:

  • Selectively permeable barrier to blood solutes

  • Secretes vasoconstrictors and vasodilators

  • Provides smooth inner lining that repels blood cells and platelets

• Description:

  • Endothelium, its basement membrane, elastic laminae and elastic fibers

  • External limit formed by internal elastic lamina (not clearly defined)

Tunica media of elastic artery

• Location: Middle layer of vessel wall

• Function: Vasoconstriction and vasodilation

• Description:

  • Circularly arranged smooth muscle layers and connective tissue

  • Fenestrated (perforated) elastic laminae between muscle cells

  • External limit formed by external elastic lamina

Vasa vasorum

• Location: Tunica externa

• Function: Supply outer 1/2-2/3 of tunica media

• Description: Small blood vessels

Internal elastic lamella

• Location: Layer of elastic fibers

• Description:

  • Tunica intima of medium and large arteries

  • External to endothelium and subendothelium (loose connective tissue)

Smooth muscle bundles in large vein

• Location: Tunica externa of large veins

• Function: Vasoconstriction and vasodilation

• Description: Large, wide, longitudinal bundles of smooth muscle

Tunica externa of large vein

• Location: Outermost layer of vessel wall

• Function: Anchor blood vessel to surrounding structures

• Description:

  • Thickest of three tunics

  • Prominent bundles of longitudinal smooth muscle

  • Longitudinal bundles of collagen fibers with some elastic fibers

• Also known as:

  • Tunica adventitia of large vein

Tunica intima of large vein

• Location: ocation:

  • Innermost layer of vessel wall

• Function:

  • Barrier to blood solutes

  • Provides smooth inner lining that repels blood cells and platelets

• Description:

  • Endothelium, its basement membrane, and connective tissue

  • Incomplete internal elastic lamina

• Comment:

  • Valves (folds of tunica intima) common in veins of all sizes

  • Tunica intima also known as tunica interna

Tunica media of large vein

• Location: Middle layer of vessel wall

• Function: Vasoconstriction and vasodilation (when muscular tunica media present)

• Description:

  • Poorly developed, with a few layers of smooth muscle

  • Collagen and elastic fibers present

Lumen of medium-sized vein

• Location: Medium vein (e.g., radial vein)

• Function: Conducts blood toward larger veins

• Description:

  • Central opening in medium-sized vein

  • Up to 10 mm in diameter

  • Collapsed when empty

• Comment:

  • Many medium-sized veins, especially in the limbs, exhibit infoldings of the tunica interna that meet in the middle of the lumen, forming venous valves directed toward the heart.

Lumen of muscular artery

• Location: Muscular artery (e.g., brachial)

• Function: Conducts blood to specific organs

• Description:

  • Central opening in muscular artery

  • Has up to 40 layers of smooth muscle

  • Smooth muscle constitutes approximately 3/4 of the wall’s thickness

• Comment:

  • The smooth muscle in these arteries is more conspicuous than the elastic tissue. Muscular arteries are also known as distributing arteries or medium-sized arteries.

Medium size vein

• Location: Connects small veins or large veins

• Function: Returns blood toward heart

• Description:

  • Less smooth muscle than in comparable size artery

  • Collagen and/or elastic fibers predominate in tunica media

  • Diameter of 2-9 mm

• Comment:

  • Companion vein for muscular artery

  • Examples include radial and small saphenous veins

Muscular artery

• Location: Between elastic artery and arteriole

• Function: Distributes blood to organs and regions of body

• Description:

  • Predominance of smooth muscle layers in tunica media

  • Wide range in diameter

• Also known as: Distributing artery

• Comment:

  • Companion to medium-sized vein

  • Examples include brachial, coronary, and mesenteric arteries

Tunica externa of medium-sized vein

• Location: Outermost layer of vessel wall

• Function:

  • Vasoconstriction and vasodilation

  • Helps anchor blood vessel to surrounding structures

• Description: Thickest of three tunics

• Also known as: Tunica adventitia of medium sized vein

• Comment:

  • In arteries, tunica media is thickest layer; in veins, tunica externa is thickest layer

  • Inner 1/3 of tunica media and all tunica intima supplied by diffusion of oxygen and nutrients from lumen of blood vessel

  • In large vessels, outer 1/2-2/3 of tunica media supplied by nutritive arteries (vasa vasorum) located in tunica externa

Tunica externa muscular artery

• Location: Outermost layer of vessel wall

• Function: Helps anchor blood vessel to surrounding structures

• Description:

  • Variable thickness, sometimes comparable to tunica intima

  • Elastic fibers, collagen, and smooth muscle

  • Contains lymphatic capillaries, nutritive arteries (vasa vasorum), and small nerves

• Also known as:

  • Tunica adventitia of muscular artery

Tunica intima of medium-sized vein

• Location: Innermost layer of vessel wall

• Function:

  • Barrier to blood solutes

  • Provides smooth inner lining that repels blood cells and platelets

• Description:

  • Endothelium, its basement membrane and minimal connective tissue

  • Incomplete internal elastic lamina

Tunica intima of musclar artery

• Location: Innermost layer of vessel wall

• Function:

  • Selectively permeable barrier to blood solutes

  • Secretes vasoconstrictors and vasodilators

  • Provides smooth inner lining that repels blood cells and platelets

• Description:

  • Endothelium, its basement membrane and collagen

  • Thick internal elastic lamina

• Comment:

  • Tunica intima also known as tunica interna

Tunica media of medium-sized vein

• Location: Middle layer of vessel wall

• Function: Vasoconstriction and vasodilation (when muscular tunica media present)

• Description: Few layers of smooth muscle, with interspersed collagen and elastic fibers

• Comment:

  • Some veins of limbs (e.g., great saphenous vein) have prominent muscular tunica media

  • Cerebral and dural veins lack smooth muscle cells in tunica media

Tunica media of muscular artery

• Location: Middle layer of vessel wall

• Function: Vasoconstriction and vasodilation

• Description:

  • 5-30 circular or spiral layers of smooth muscle

  • External elastic lamina

Arteriole

• Location: Connect muscular (distributing) arteries with capillaries

• Function: Supplies blood to capillaries

• Description:

  • Arteries with overall diameter 40-200 µm

  • Tunica media has one to three layers of smooth muscle

• Comment:

  • Companion vessels to venules

  • Primary point for control of blood flow to organs

Tunica externa of arteriole

• Location: Outermost layer of vessel wall

• Function: Anchor blood vessel to surrounding structures

• Description: Composed of elastic and collagen fibers

• Also known as: Tunica adventitia of arteriole

• Comment: In arteries, tunica media is thickest layer; in veins, thickest layer is tunica externa

Tunica externa of venule

• Location: Outermost layer of vessel wall

• Function: Anchor blood vessel to surrounding structures

• Description: Minimal tunica externa with a few collagen fibers and some fibroblasts

• Also known as: Tunica adventitia of venule

• Comment: In arteries, tunica media is thickest layer; in veins, tunica externa is thickest layer

Tunica intima of arteriole

• Location: innermost layer of vessel wall

• Function:

  • Selectively permeable barrier to blood solutes

  • Secretes vasoconstrictors and vasodilators

  • Provides smooth inner lining that repels blood cells and platelets

• Description:

  • Composed of endothelium and its basement membrane

  • External limit formed by internal elastic lamina

• Comment: Tunica intima also known as tunica interna

Tunica intima of venule

• Location: Innermost layer of vessel wall

• Function:

  • Selectively permeable barrier to blood solutes

  • Secretes vasoconstrictors and vasodilators

  • Provides smooth inner lining that repels blood cells and platelets

• Description: Composed of endothelium and its basement membrane

• Comment: Tunica intima also known as tunica interna

Tunica media of arteriole

• Location: Middle layer of vessel wall

• Function: Vasoconstriction and vasodilation

• Description:

  • Composed of one to three layers of circularly arranged smooth muscle cells and connective tissue

  • External elastic lamina inconspicuous

• Comment: In arteries, tunica media is thickest layer; in veins, tunica externa is thickest layer

Tunica media of venule

• Location: Middle layer of vessel wall

• Function: Vasoconstriction and vasodilation (when muscular tunica media present)

• Description:

  • Small venules lack tunica media

  • Larger venules acquire incomplete tunica media of smooth muscle

• Comment: In arteries, tunica media is thickest layer; in veins, tunica externa is thickest layer

Vasa vasorum

• Location: Tunica externa

• Function: Supply outer 1/2-2/3 of tunica media

• Description: Small blood vessels

Venule

• Location: Connects capillaries with small and medium-sized veins

• Function:

  • Exchange fluid with surrounding tissues

  • Diapedesis (migration of leukocytes from blood vessel into interstitial fluid) occurs in postcapillary venules

• Description:

  • Veins with overall diameter 15-100 µm

  • Acquires tunica media of smooth muscle in larger venules

• Comment:

  • Companion vessels to arterioles

  • Smallest venules called postcapillary venules

Anterior cerebral artery

• Origin: Internal carotid

• Course: Passes anteriorly along medial aspect of frontal lobe of cerebral cortex

• Distribution: Medial aspect of frontal lobe of cerebral cortex

Anterior communication artery

• Origin: Anterior cerebral

• Course:

  • Short, unpaired vessel

  • Connects paired anterior cerebral arteries

Anterior spinal artery

• Origin: Vertbral

• Course:

  • Descends on anterior surface medulla oblongata

  • Arteries from each side unite to form single anterior median vessel along anterior spinal cord

• Distribution: Central branches supply anterior 2/3 of spinal cord

Basilar artery

• Origin: Junction of paired vertebral arteries

• Course: Unpaired (midline) vessel ascends on anterior (ventral) surface of pons

• Distribution: Pons and Cerebellum

• Branches: Pontine, Anterior inferior cerebellar, Superior cerebellar, and Posterior cerebral

Cerebral arterial circle

• Origin: Internal carotid and basilar arteries

• Course: Circular anastomosis on ventral surface of brain

• Also known as: Circle of Willis

• Comment:

  • Branches include paired anterior and posterior cerebral arteries, posterior communicating arteries, and unpaired anterior communicating artery

  • Anastomosis refers to the end-to-end union of vessels

Internal carotid artery

• Origin: Common carotid

• Course:

  • Ascends in neck to base of cranium

  • Enters cranial cavity via carotid canal

• Distribution: Eye, Cerebrum and Cerebral arterial circle (of Willis)

• Branches: Ophthalmic, Anterior cerebral, and Middle cerebral

• Comment:

  • Enclosed in carotid sheath

  • Carotid sheath is a fascial sleeve which contains common and internal carotid arteries, internal jugular vein, vagus nerve (CN X), and lymphatic channels

Posterior communicating artery

• Origin: Internal carotid and basilar arteries

• Course: Paired vessel connects basilar artery with internal carotid artery on each side

Vertebral artery

• Origin: Subclavian

• Course:

  • Paired vessel ascends through neck, via transverse foramina in cervical vertebrae

  • Enters cranial cavity via foramen magnum

• Distribution: Brain, Spinal cord, and Vertebral column

• Branches:

  • Posterior inferior cerebellar

  • Spinal arteries

  • Continues as basilar artery (formed by union of right and left vertebral arteries)

• Comment: Large arteries do not by themselves supply structures, but do so through their branches

Anterior jugular vein

• Drainage: Anterior Neck

• Course: Descends in neck from level of hyoid bone as paired or single vessel

• Termination: External jugular or subclavian

• Comment: Size inversely proportional to external jugular

Carotid sinus

• Location: Distal common carotid artery or proximal internal carotid artery

• Function: Reacts to changes in blood pressure to effect heart rate and artery diameter

• Description: At this location, tunica externa (tunica adventitia) contains collection of baroreceptors

• Comment: Innervated primarily by glossopharyngeal (CN IX) nerve

Common carotid artery

• Origin:

  • Right: brachiocephalic trunk from arch of aorta

  • Left: arch of aorta

• Course: Exits thorax and ascends in neck

• Distribution: Structures of head and neck

• Branches: Internal and external carotid arteries (at level of C4 vertebra)

• Comment:

  • Has no branches before terminal branches

  • Enclosed in carotid sheath

  • Carotid sheath is a fascial sleeve which contains common and internal carotid arteries, internal jugular vein, vagus nerve (CN X), and lymphatic channels

  • Large arteries do not by themselves supply structures, but do so through their branches

External carotid artery

• Origin: Common carotid (at bifurcation)

• Course: Ascends in neck

• Distribution: Exterior of head (except orbit), Face, Meninges, and Neck structures

• Branches: Superior thyroid, Ascending pharyngeal, Lingual, Facial, Occipital, Posterior auricular, Maxillary, and Superficial temporal

• Comment: Not contained in carotid sheath

External jugular vein

• Drainage: Scalp and Face

• Course:

  • Subcutaneous vessel formed by union of retromandibular and posterior auricular veins near angle of mandible

  • Descends toward middle of clavicle

  • Crosses anterior surface of sternocleidomastoid muscle

• Tributaries: Retromandibular, Posterior auricular, Transverse cervical, Suprascapular, and Anterior jugula

• Termination: Subclavian

• Comment:

  • Often communicates with internal jugular vein (near parotid gland)

  • Valves present at inferior end

Facial artery

• Origin: External carotid

• Course:

  • Arches over submandibular gland medial to body of mandible

  • Curves around inferior mandibular border to ascend anteriorly from across face towards medial corner of eye

  • Ends as angular artery at side of nose

• Distribution: Face, Palatine tonsil, Pharyngotympanic (Eustachian) tube, Soft palate, and Submandibular gland

• Branches: Submental, Tonsillar, Labial, and Continues as angular

• Comment:

  • Anastomosis with ophthalmic artery via dorsal nasal artery

  • Anastomosis refers to the end-to-end union of vessels

Facial vein

• Drainage: Orbit, Superficial and deep face, Palatine tonsil, and Anterior neck

• Tributaries: Angular, Tonsillar, Labial, and Submental

• Course:

  • Descends, lateral to angle of mouth, from ala of nose

  • Crosses body of mandible anterior to masseter

  • Arches over submandibular gland medial to body of mandible

  • Enters anterior neck

• Termination: Internal jugular

Lingual artery

• Origin: External carotid

• Course: Ascends toward oral cavity

• Distribution: Tongue and Floor of oral cavity

• Branches: Dorsal lingual, sublingual, and continues as deep lingual

Maxilary artery

• Origin: External carotid

• Course: Passes anteriorly and medially to deep face

• Distribution: Mandible and teeth, maxilla and teeth, muscles of mastication, meninges, soft and hard palate, nasal cavity, face, and middle and inner ears

• Comment: Largest branch of external carotid artery

Maxillary vein

• Drainage: Mandible and teeth, maxilla and teeth, muscles of mastication, meninges, soft and hard palate, nasal cavity, face, and middle and inner ears

• Tributaries: Pterygoid venous plexus

• Course: Passes posteriorly from pterygoid venous plexus, medial to neck of mandible

• Termination: Unites with superficial temporal vein to form retromandibular vein

Occipital artery

• Origin: External carotid

• Course: Ascends toward the posterior head

• Distribution:

  • Posterior scalp

  • Sternocleidomastoid, digastric, stylohyoid, splenius, and longissimus muscles

  • Dura mater and bone of posterior cranial fossa

• Comment: Crossed near origin by hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

Anterior circumflex humeral artery

• Origin: Axillary

• Course: Passes anteriorly around surgical neck of humerous

• Distribution: Deltoid muscle, Anterior proximal arm muscles, and Shoulder joint

• Comment:

  • Smaller than posterior circumflex humeral

  • Anastomosis with posterior circumflex humeral

  • Anastomosis refers to the end-to-end union of vessels

  • Surgical neck of humerus is proximal portion of shaft (common area of fracture)

Axillary artery

• Origin: Subclavian (at lateral border of rib 1)

• Course:

  • Passes through axilla surrounded by cords and branches of brachial plexus

  • Divided into 3 parts by pectoralis minor m. First part is proximal to pectoralis minor m., second part is posterior to muscle, and third part is distal to muscle

• Distribution:

  • Pectoral, shoulder, and scapular regions

  • Superior and lateral aspects of thoracic wall

• Branches:

  • Superior thoracic (from first part of axillary a.)

  • Lateral thoracic (from second part of axillary a.)

  • Thoraco-acromial (from second part of axillary a.)

  • Subscapular (from third part of axillary a.)

  • Anterior and posterior circumflex humeral (from third part of axillary a.)

  • Continues as brachial artery (at inferior border of teres major m.)

Brachial artery

• Origin: Axillary (at inferior border of teres major m.)

• Course: Passes inferiorly along medial aspect of arm

• Distribution: Arm muscles, Humerus, and Elbow joint

• Branches:

  • Deep brachial (deep artery of the arm, or profound brachii a.)

  • Superior ulnar collateral

  • Inferior ulnar collateral

  • Radial

  • Ulnar

• Comment:

  • Large arteries do not by themselves supply structures, but do so through their branches

Left subclavian artery

• Origin: Arch of aorta

• Course: Arches over rib 1

• Branches:

  • Vertebral

  • Internal thoracic

  • Costocervical trunk

  • Thyrocervical trunk

  • Suprascapular (sometimes)

  • Continues as axillary artery at lateral border of rib 1

Suprascapular artery

• Origin: Thyrocervical trunk or subclavian artery

• Course:

  • Passes across inferior neck towards scapula

  • Passes onto posterior aspect of scapula

• Distribution:

  • Supra- and infraspinatus muscles

  • Acromioclavicular and glenohumeral joints

• Comment:

  • Contributes to anastomoses around scapula

  • Anastomosis refers to the end-to-end union of vessels

Transverse cervical artery

• Origin: Thyrocervical trunk

• Course: Passes posteriorly across neck to scapular muscles

• Distribution: Trapezius muscle, Levator scapulae muscle, and Rhomboid muscles

• Branches: Superficial and deep

• Comment:

  • Contributes to anastomoses around scapula

  • Anastomosis refers to the end-to-end union of vessels

Radial artery

• Origin: Brachial

• Course: Passes distally along lateral aspect of forearm

• Distribution:

  • Superficial posterior forearm muscles

  • Deep hand muscles

  • Thumb and lateral side of index finger

  • Joints of elbow and hand

• Branches:

  • Radial recurrent

  • Superficial palmar branch (to superficial palmar arterial arch)

  • Princeps pollicis

  • Continues as deep palmar arterial arch

• Comment:

  • Commonly used for taking pulse at wrist

  • Anastomosis with ulnar artery through superficial and deep palmar arterial arches

  • Anastomosis refers to the end-to-end union of vessels

Ulnar

• Origin: Brachial

• Course: Passes distally along medial aspect of forearm

• Distribution: Medial forearm muscles, Hand muscles, and Joints of elbow and hand

• Branches:

  • Common interosseous

  • Ulnar recurrent

  • Deep palmar branch (to deep palmar arterial arch)

  • Continues as superficial palmar arterial arch

• Comment:

  • Larger than radial artery

  • Anastomosis with radial artery through superficial and deep palmar arterial arches

  • Anastomosis refers to the end-to-end union of vessels

Abdominal aorta

• Origin: Thoracic aorta

• Course:

  • Parallels vertebral column, slightly left of midline

  • Divides into common iliac arteries on body of L4 vertebra

• Distribution:

  • Abdominal and pelvic viscera

  • Walls of abdomen and pelvis

  • Ovaries and testis

• Branches: Celiac, Superior mesenteric, Inferior mesenteric, Middle suprarenal, Renal, Gonadal, Inferior phrenic, Lumbar, Median sacral, and continues as right and left common iliac

Common hepatic artery

• Origin: Celiac artery

• Course:

  • Passes anterior and to the right to enter lesser omentum

  • Ends at superior border of first (superior) part of duodenum

• Distribution: Liver, Pancreas, Stomach. Gallbladder, and Duodenum

• Branches: Hepatic artery proper and Gastroduodenal

Common iliac artery

• Origin: Abdominal aorta

• Course:

  • Begins anterior to L4 vertebral body

  • Passes obliquely across L4-5 vertebral bodies

  • Ends at the level of the sacro-iliac joint (L5-S1)

• Distribution: Pelvis, Posterior abdominal wall, Perineum, and Lower limb

• Branches: Internal iliac and External iliac

Gastroduodenal artery

• Origin: Common hepatic

• Course: Descends between superior (first) part of duodenum and neck of pancreas

• Distribution: Stomach, Pancreas,and Duodenum

• Branches: Right gastro-omental and Superior pancreaticoduodenal

Gonadal artery

• Origin: Abdominal aorta

• Course:

  • Descends on posterior abdominal wall

  • Male (testicular artery): enters inguinal canal to join contents of spermatic cord

  • Female (ovarian artery): in pelvis, enters suspensory ligament of ovary

• Distribution:

  • Ureter

  • Male: testis and spermatic cord

  • Female: ovary and uterine tube

Left renal artery

• Origin: Abdominal aorta

• Course: Passes laterally to enter kidney

• Distribution: Kidney, ureter (upper part), and Suprarenal gland

• Branches:

  • Inferior suprarenal

  • Ureteric

  • Four or five branches near hilum of kidney

• Comment: Left renal artery shorter than right renal artery

Lumbar artery

• Origin: Abdominal aorta

• Course: Four, paired branches course laterally on posterior abdominal wall

• Distribution: Posterior abdominal wall, back, and spinal cord

• Comment: Segmental pattern similar to posterior intercostal arteries

Right renal artery

• Origin: Abdominal aorta

• Course: Passes laterally to enter kidney

• Distribution: Kidney, Ureter (upper part), and Suprarenal gland

• Branches: Four or five branches near hilum of kidneyy

• Comment: Right renal artery longer than left renal artery

Splenic artery

• Origin: Celic artery

• Course: Serpenmtine (snake-like) path of left along superior border of pancreas

• Distribution: Spleen, pacnreas, and stomach (fundus

• Branches:

• Comment:

Left external illac artery (female pelvis)

• Origin: Bifurcation of common iliac artery

• Course: Descends laterally along medial border of psoas major muscle from level of sacro-iliac joint to inguinal ligament

• Distribution: Abdominal wall (inferior) and Lower limb

• Branches: Inferior epigastric, Deep circumflex iliac, and Continues as femoral artery

• Comment: At origin usually crossed by ureter and gonadal vessels

Left internal iliac artery (female pelvis)

• Origin: Common iliac

• Course:

  • Begins at the level of the sacro-iliac joint (L5-S1)

  • Descends into pelvis and passes posteriorly toward superior margin of greater sciatic notch (ilium)

• Distribution: Posterior abdominal wall, Pelvic wall, Pelvic organs, Gluteal region, and Perineum

• Branches: Iliolumbar, Lateral sacral, Superior gluteal, Umbilical, Uterine (female), Inferior vesical (male), Vaginal (female), Obturator, Middle rectal, Inferior gluteal, and Internal pudendal

• Comment:

  • Commonly divides into anterior and posterior divisions

  • Branching pattern has considerable variation

Uterine artery (female pelvis)

• Origin: Internal iliac (anterior division)

• Course:

  • Passes medially to reach uterus at junction of uterine body and cervix

  • Reflects along side of uterus

• Distribution: Uterus and Vagina

• Branches: Vaginal

• Comment:

  • Commonly a branch of umbilical artery

  • Forms anastomosis with ovarian and vaginal arteries

  • Anastomosis refers to the end-to-end union of vessels

External iliac artery (male pelvis)

• Origin: Common iliac

• Course: Descends laterally along medial border of psoas muscle from level of sacro-iliac joint to inguinal ligament

• Distribution: Abdominal wall (inferior) and Lower limb

• Branches: Inferior epigastric, Deep circumflex iliac, and Continues as femoral artery

• Comment:

  • At origin usually crossed by ureter and gonadal vessels

  • Formed by bifurcation of common iliac

Internal iliac artery (male pelvis)

• Origin: Common illiac

• Course:

  • Begins at the level of the sacro-iliac joint (L5-S1)

  • Descends into pelvis and passes posteriorly toward superior margin of greater sciatic notch (ilium)

• Distribution: Posterior abdominal wall, Pelvic wall, Pelvic organs, Gluteal region, and Perineum

• Branches: Iliolumbar, Lateral sacral, Superior gluteal, Umbilical, Uterine (female), Inferior vesical (male), Vaginal (female), Obturator, Middle rectal, Inferior gluteal, and Internal pudendal

• Comment:

  • Commonly divides into anterior and posterior divisions

  • Branching pattern has considerable variation

Obturator artery (male pelvis)

• Origin: Internal iliac

• Course:

  • Passes along lateral pelvic wall to superior part of obturator foramen

  • Passes through obturator canal to reach medial thigh

• Distribution:

  • Muscles and skin of medial thigh

  • Head and neck of femur

Deep femoralartery

• Origin: Femoral

• Course: Passes distally through medial thigh

• Distribution: Thigh muscles and Hip and knee joints

• Branches: Nutrient artery to humerus, Medial circumflex femoral, Lateral circumflex femoral, and Three to four perforating arteries

• Also known as:

  • Deep artery of thigh

  • Profunda femoris a.

• Comment: Largest branch of femoral

Femoral artery

• Origin: External iliac

• Course:

  • Descends in anterior and medial thigh

  • Extends from inguinal ligament to adductor hiatus

• Distribution: Abdominal wall (anterior inferior), External genitalia, Thigh muscles, Femur, and Hip and knee joints

• Branches:

  • Superficial epigastric

  • External pudendal

  • Superficial circumflex iliac

  • Muscular branches

  • Deep artery of thigh (profunda femoris a.)

  • Continues as popliteal (at adductor hiatus)

• Comment:

  • Major artery of lower limb

  • Superficial in proximal thigh (femoral pulse)

Anterior tibial artery

• Origin: Popliteal

• Course:

  • Passes through proximal part of interosseous membrane

  • Descends on anterior surface of interosseous membrane (proximal 2/3) and tibia (distal 1/3)

  • Crosses ankle midway between malleoli

• Distribution: Anterior (extensor) compartment of leg

• Branches: Continues onto dorsum of foot as dorsal artery of foot

• Comment: Terminal branch of popliteal a.

Popliteal artery

• Origin: Femoral

• Course: Descends posterior to knee joint in popliteal fossa

• Distribution: Structures around knee and Knee joint

• Branches: Posterior and anterior tibial and Genicular arteries

• Comment:

  • Continuation of femoral artery at adductor hiatus

  • Terminal branches (posterior and anterior tibial) supply everything below knee