Femoral artery

The femoral artery is a large artery in the muscles of the thigh.

Clinical significance

The femoral artery pulse can be palpated at the femoral triangle.

Superficial femoral artery

Some radiologists, vascular surgeons and other specialist physicians refer to the femoral artery as the "superficial femoral artery" after the profunda femoris artery branch point to differentiate the femoral artery segments before and after the branch point. This term, historically, has not been used by anatomists, and has fallen out of favour with most physicians because it has led to considerable confusion with its accompanying vein, the femoral vein, which if called "superficial femoral vein" might incorrectly be assumed to be a superficial vein, as opposed to a deep vein.

Additional images

External links

• Image at umich.edu - pulse
• Diagram at MSU