Arteries
The arterial supply of the lower extremity originates from the large abdominal aorta. An outer and an inner pelvic artery branch off from here:
- External iliac artery and
- Internal iliac artery
The branches of the internal iliac artery pass through the pelvis and branch out further into their end branches.
- The arteria iliolumbalis supplies some muscles of the pelvis,
- The arteria glutea superior and inferior move to the gluteal muscles and supply them with oxygenated blood.
- The arteria pudenda leaves the pelvis again and then branches out into further end branches:
- The arteria rectalis supplies the anal canal and skin,
- The arteria perinealis the msuculature of the diaphragm urogenital and other branches supply the scrotum, or labia as well as the urethra and penis, or clitoris.
- The obturator artery also leaves the pelvis and then supplies the muscles of the adductor group of the thigh.
The external pelvic artery (Arteria iliaca externa) merges into the Arteria femoralis in the area of the inner hip.
This is the large artery of the thigh, which also gives off numerous branches. Some superficial branches supply other areas of the pelvis and thigh. The strongest and deepest branch of the femoral artery, it forms an anastomosis in the area of the neck of the femur with the medially running artery of the same name.
Together they supply the joint capsule. Approximately at the level of the patella, the femoral artery merges into the popliteal artery. Branches of this artery supply the knee and its joint capsule as well as the muscles.
Just below the knee, the anterior tibial artery emerges from the popliteal artery: anterior tibial artery. It runs to the back of the foot and gives off numerous branches on its way, which supply the extensor muscles of the lower leg and both ankles. On the back of the foot, the arteria tibialis anterior merges with the arteria dorsalis pedis, which then ends in an arterial network and supplies the back of the foot.
The arteria tibialis posterior is the second end branch of the arteria poplitea. It runs on the back of the lower leg between the flexor muscles. On its way to the sole of the foot it supplies the flexor muscles and finally ends in the arteria plantaris medialis and lateralis, which end in an arterial network and supply the sole of the foot as well as the lateral and middle foot edge.
The arteria fibularis also originates from the arteria tibialis posterior. This ends at the lateral malleolus where it forms an anastomosis with the posterior tibial artery.
- The A. profunda fermoris runs medially. From here further branches branch off.
- The arteria circumflexa femoris medialis supplies the ischiocrural musculature. The
- Arteria circumflexa femoris laterlis runs along the side of the thigh and supplies the extensor muscles.
