Ninja Nerd - Circulatory System | Arteries of the Lower Limb | Flow Chart

Blood Flow through the Lower Limbs

• The systemic circulation is driven by the left ventricle, which pumps blood into the aorta.
• The aorta descends through the thoracic and abdominal cavities, eventually becoming the abdominal aorta.
• The abdominal aorta branches into the right and left common iliac arteries.
• The common iliac artery bifurcates into the internal and external iliac arteries.
• The internal iliac artery gives off several branches:
  • Superior gluteal artery, supplying the upper part of the gluteus maximus.
  • Inferior gluteal artery, supplying the inferior portion of the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius.
  • Internal pudendal artery, supplying the external genitalia and other accessory structures within the pelvis.
  • Obturator artery, supplying the pelvis and thighs.

Blood Flow through the Leg

• The external iliac artery continues down the leg and becomes the femoral artery.
• The femoral artery gives off three branches:
  • Deep femoral artery, which gives off two branches:
    • Medial circumflex femoral artery, supplying the medial side of the thigh.
    • Lateral circumflex femoral artery, supplying the lateral side of the thigh.
  • Genicular branch, supplying muscles within the thigh.
  • Popliteal artery, which branches into the posterior tibial artery and the anterior tibial artery.

Blood Flow through the Foot

• The anterior tibial artery continues down the leg and becomes the dorsalis pedis artery.
• The dorsalis pedis artery arcs around and becomes the arcuate artery.
• The arcuate artery gives off the dorsal metatarsal arteries, which supply the metatarsal area.
• The dorsal metatarsal arteries then branch into the dorsal digital arteries, supplying the digits.

Posterior Tibial Artery Branches

• The posterior tibial artery gives off two branches:
  • Fibula or peroneal branch, supplying the lateral aspect of the lower leg.
  • Medial and lateral plantar arteries, which form the plantar arch.
• The plantar arch gives off the plantar metatarsal arteries, which supply the metatarsal area.
• The plantar metatarsal arteries then branch into the plantar digital arteries, supplying the digits.

Blood Flow through the Lower Limbs

• The left ventricle pumps blood into the aorta, which descends through the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Abdominal Aorta Branches

• The abdominal aorta branches into the right and left common iliac arteries.
• The common iliac artery bifurcates into the internal and external iliac arteries.

Internal Iliac Artery Branches

• The internal iliac artery gives off several branches, including:
  • Superior gluteal artery, supplying the upper part of the gluteus maximus.
  • Inferior gluteal artery, supplying the inferior portion of the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius.
  • Internal pudendal artery, supplying the external genitalia and other accessory structures within the pelvis.
  • Obturator artery, supplying the pelvis and thighs.

External Iliac Artery Continues

• The external iliac artery continues down the leg and becomes the femoral artery.

Femoral Artery Branches

• The femoral artery gives off three branches:
  • Deep femoral artery, which gives off two branches:
    • Medial circumflex femoral artery, supplying the medial side of the thigh.
    • Lateral circumflex femoral artery, supplying the lateral side of the thigh.
  • Genicular branch, supplying muscles within the thigh.
  • Popliteal artery, which branches into the posterior tibial artery and the anterior tibial artery.

Blood Flow through the Foot

• The anterior tibial artery continues down the leg and becomes the dorsalis pedis artery.
• The dorsalis pedis artery arcs around and becomes the arcuate artery.
• The arcuate artery gives off the dorsal metatarsal arteries, which supply the metatarsal area.
• The dorsal metatarsal arteries then branch into the dorsal digital arteries, supplying the digits.

Posterior Tibial Artery Branches

• The posterior tibial artery gives off two branches:
  • Fibula or peroneal branch, supplying the lateral aspect of the lower leg.
  • Medial and lateral plantar arteries, which form the plantar arch.
  • The plantar arch gives off the plantar metatarsal arteries, which supply the metatarsal area.
  • The plantar metatarsal arteries then branch into the plantar digital arteries, supplying the digits.