The branches of femoral artery have a complex course, running, twisting and curving around the muscles of thigh. This is so, because they must supply the largest skeletal muscles of the human body. Being the continuation of the external iliac, the femoral is the main, oxygen-rich blood vessel that supplies the whole human lower limb (thigh, leg, and foot). In order to do that, it gives off important branches along its downward course. Once it has gone down beyond the inguinal ligament, the femoral artery begins to give off important branches that supply the muscles, bone, and tendons of the thigh.
Branches of the femoral
1- Superficial epigastric artery. It arises from the anterior side of the femoral artery, right below the inguinal ligament line. Extending upwards and medially, it supplies the abdominal wall region near the umbilicus (navel).
2- Superficial circumflex iliac artery. It originates from the lateral aspect of the femoral. Running laterally along the inguinal ligament, it supplies the muscles, skin, and the inguinal lymph glands.
3- External pudendal arteries. They are two small branches which originate from the medial side of femoral. Traveling medially, one of them irrigates the external region above the pubic; the other runs obliquely to supply the scrotum (labia majora in female).
4- Inguinal arteries. These are three small arterial blood vessels that arise just where the femoral artery begins. It supplies the skin and the lympth nodes of the inguinal region.
5- Profunda femoris artery. Being its largest branch, it originates from the posterior aspect of the main femoral, 4 cm below the inguinal ligament. Then it runs laterally and downwards, stretching across the iliopsoas and the pectineus muscles. It gives off the lateral circumflex femoral and the medial circumflex femoral artery.
6- Descending genicular artery. It arise from the anterior side of femoral. Then it forked into two branches to supply the knee-joint and tissues of nearby areas.
7- Popliteal Artery. It is the continuation of the femoral artery, lying on the posterior aspect of knee. Having run down beyond the popliteal region, it divides into the anterior and the posterior tibial arteries.
Below, diagram of the branches of femoral artery.
