Arterial Supply to the Pelvic Limb

[ Up ] [ joints2 ] [ hip,thighmm ] [ crusmm ] [ arteries ] [ nerves ]

[ image 1 ] [ image 2 ]

This is a view of the medial aspect of the limb. Why would we expect to find the major blood supply to the limbs on the medial aspect of the limb?

Exiting from the abdominal cavity, through the vascular lacunae, is the femoral artery (A). The femoral vein (B) enters the body cavity through the same lacunae. We can trace the artery and vein distally along the caudal edge of the caudal belly of the sartorius muscle. In the lower third of the thigh, the femoral artery gives off the saphenous artery and the saphenous vein joins the femoral vein. The saphenous artery and vein (C) course along the distal caudal edge of the caudal sartorius muscle belly, and the femoral vessels dive deep under the semimembranosis muscle. The saphenous vein divides distally into medial and lateral saphenous veins, which are good places for venapuncture. As the femoral artery passes behind the stifle, it gives off a branch (do not worry about the name of the branch) and becomes the popliteal artery. Popliteal refers to the posterior portion of the knee - hence, popliteus muscle and popliteal lymph nodes are found here. The popliteal artery divides into the cranial and caudal tibial arteries. See image 2.