{"id":4055,"date":"2021-01-23T21:51:28","date_gmt":"2021-01-23T20:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/lower-limb\/thigh\/neurovasculature\/"},"modified":"2021-01-26T16:35:06","modified_gmt":"2021-01-26T15:35:06","slug":"neurovasculature","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/lower-limb\/thigh\/neurovasculature\/","title":{"rendered":"Neurovasculature"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blood supply<\/h2>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

The thigh is supplied by three major vessels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Femoral artery<\/li>
  • Obturator artery<\/li>
  • Inferior gluteal artery<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

    Femoral artery<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

    The anterior compartment of the thigh is supplied mainly by the femoral artery <\/strong>and its perforating branches. The femoral artery is the largest of the lower limb arteries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • It begins as a continuation of the external iliac artery<\/strong>.<\/li>
    • It courses inferiorly to the inguinal ligament to enter the femoral triangle, where it supplies the anterior compartment<\/strong> of thigh muscles. <\/li>
    • It descends through the femoral triangle and the adductor canal and gives off several smaller branches.<\/li>
    • As the femoral artery enters the adductor canal, passing through the adductor hiatus it continues as the popliteal artery<\/strong>. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Branches<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The femoral artery gives off the deep femoral (profunda femoris) artery <\/strong>at the femoral triangle region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The deep femoral artery courses posteriorly to give off several branches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      • Perforating branches<\/strong>
        • 3-4 branches that supply the adductor magnus muscle.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
        • Lateral femoral circumflex artery<\/strong>
          • Supplies muscles of the lateral aspect of the thigh.<\/li>
          • It wraps around the femur, hence the name circumflex.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
          • Medial femoral circumflex artery<\/strong>
            • Wraps around the femur to supply its head and neck.<\/li>
            • Due to its location around the neck of the femur, the artery is clinically important as it can be easily damaged in cases of a femoral neck fracture. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

              Obturator Artery<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

              The medial compartment of the thigh is mainly supplied by the obturator artery<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              • The obturator artery is a branch of the internal iliac artery<\/strong>.<\/li>
              • The artery passes anteroinferiorly through the obturator canal <\/strong>to enter the thigh. <\/li>
              • It then supplies the medial compartment<\/strong> of thigh muscles, namely the adductor muscles, gracilis, and obturator externus muscles.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                Inferior gluteal artery<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                The inferior gluteal artery is one of two gluteal arteries, with the other one being the superior gluteal artery<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                • Both arteries originate as branches of the internal iliac artery. <\/li>
                • Both arteries exit the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen and course posteriorly to reach the gluteal region. <\/li>
                • The superior artery emerges superior to the piriformis muscle, while the inferior artery emerges inferior to it.<\/li>
                • The superior artery supplies the gluteal region and is not included<\/strong> as one of the arteries of the thigh.<\/li>
                • The inferior artery supplies the gluteal region and the posterior thigh and the sciatic nerve.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                  \n\n\n<\/span>\n

                  Venous drainage<\/h2>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                  The venous drainage of the thigh can be divided into superficial and deep venous systems.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                  Superficial venous drainage<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                  The superficial venous system is found within the superficial fascia of the leg, with veins that do not follow the arterial system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  The veins readily anastomose with eachother and with the deep venous system, with the largest vessel being the saphenous vein<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                  Saphenous vein<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                  The saphenous vein begins from the dorsum of the foot, ascending up on the medial side of the leg and thigh, ending by passing through the saphenous ring and entering the femoral triangle where it drains into the femoral vein.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                  Deep venous drainage<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                  The deep venous system is generally parallel to the arterial system with veins found in proximity with the arteries and carry the same names.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                  Femoral Vein<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                  The anterior compartment of the thigh is drained by the femoral vein <\/strong>and its perforating branches, namely the deep femoral vein<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  The femoral vein <\/strong>is a continuation of the popliteal vein, which ascends along the lower leg through the adductor canal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  • It follows the course of the femoral artery and it is the main deep vein of the thigh. <\/li>
                  • Similarly to the femoral artery, the femoral vein passes inferior to the inguinal ligament and continues as the external iliac vein.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                    Deep femoral vein<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                    Normally, the deep femoral (profunda femoris) vein is formed by the union of 3-4 perforating femoral veins which drain the deep structures of the thigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    It drains into the femoral vein at the inferior aspect of the femoral triangle.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                    Inferior gluteal vein<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                    Similar to the artery, the inferior gluteal vein is one of two veins, with the other one being the superior gluteal vein<\/strong>. The two gluteal veins follow a similar trajectory to those of the arteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    • The gluteal region is drained by the superior vein, while the inferior vein drains both the gluteal and the posterior thigh region.<\/li>
                    • They anastomose with the superficial venous system.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      The gluteal veins ultimately drain into the internal iliac vein<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \n\n\n<\/span>\n

                      Innervation<\/h2>\n<\/span>\n\n<\/span>\n

                      Femoral nerve<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                      The femoral nerve<\/strong> is a branch of the lumbar plexus<\/strong> (nerve roots L2-L4) which enters the thigh by passing deep to the inguinal ligament and entering the femoral triangle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      • In the femoral triangle, the nerve divides into an anterior <\/strong>and posterior branches.<\/strong><\/li>
                      • These supply motor innervation for the muscles of the anterior thigh<\/strong> compartment, as well as cutaneous<\/strong> innervation<\/strong> to the anteromedial aspect of the thigh<\/strong> and medial aspect of the leg and foot.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                        Branches<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                        During its course, the femoral nerve gives the following branches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        • Multiple muscular nerves<\/strong> to supply the muscles <\/strong>of <\/strong>the anterior compartment <\/strong>of the thigh.<\/li>
                        • Anterior cutaneous branch, <\/strong>supplying skin in the thigh and knee regions.<\/li>
                        • Saphenous nerve, <\/strong>cutaneously supplying the medial area of the foot.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                          Obturator Nerve<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                          Also a branch of the lumbar plexus (L2-L4), the obturator enters the medial compartment of the thigh by passing through the obturator canal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          • It supplies the medial muscles <\/strong>of <\/strong>the thigh<\/strong> as well as the skin over the medial aspect<\/strong> of the thigh.<\/li>
                          • The obturator nerve divides to give anterior <\/strong>and posterior obturator branches <\/strong>that run along either side of the adductor brevis muscle. 
                            • The anterior branch <\/strong>supplies the adductor longus, brevis, gracilis <\/strong>and pectineus<\/strong>. It also gives cutaneous innervation to the medial thigh. <\/li>
                            • The posterior branch<\/strong> descends posterior to the adductor brevis muscle, as it supplies the obturator externus<\/strong>, adductor<\/strong> brevis<\/strong> and part of adductor magnus<\/strong>. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                              Sciatic Nerve<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                              The sciatic nerve (nerve roots L4-S3) is the largest and longest nerve in the lower limb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              • It leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen and descends posterior to the adductor magnus to the gluteal region<\/strong> and into the leg and the foot.<\/li>
                              • Just superior to the popliteal fossa, the sciatic nerve divides into the tibial <\/strong>and common fibular nerves<\/strong>.
                                • The two branches innervate the majority of the lower leg.<\/li>
                                • The tibial nerve innervates semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and the long head of the bicep femoris.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

                                  Gluteal nerves<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

                                  Accompanying the sciatic nerve, the superior <\/strong>and inferior gluteal nerves<\/strong> also leave the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                  • At the gluteal region, the superior gluteal nerve emerges superior to piriformis, while the inferior gluteal nerve is inferior to it.<\/li>
                                  • The superior gluteal nerve supplies the gluteus medius <\/strong>and minimus<\/strong>.<\/li>
                                  • The inferior gluteal nerve supplies the gluteus maximus<\/strong> muscle.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                    \n\n\n\n

                                    Further reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                    • Clinical anatomy (MOORE), pages 551-577<\/li>
                                    • Gray’s anatomy for students 4th edition, pages 592-597<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/span>

                                      Blood supply<\/h2>

                                      Femoral artery<\/h3>

                                      Branches<\/h4>

                                      Obturator Artery<\/h3>

                                      Inferior gluteal artery<\/h3>

                                      Venous drainage<\/h2>

                                      Superficial venous drainage<\/h3>

                                      Saphenous vein<\/h4>

                                      Deep venous drainage<\/h3>

                                      Femoral Vein<\/h4>

                                      Deep femoral vein<\/h4>

                                      Inferior gluteal vein<\/h4>

                                      Innervation<\/h2>

                                      Femoral nerve<\/h3>

                                      Branches<\/h4>

                                      Obturator Nerve<\/h3>

                                      Sciatic Nerve<\/h3>

                                      Gluteal nerves<\/h3><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                      Blood supply The thigh is supplied by three major vessels: Femoral artery Obturator artery Inferior gluteal artery Femoral artery The anterior compartment of the thigh is supplied mainly by the femoral artery and its perforating branches. The femoral artery is the largest of the lower limb arteries.  It begins as a continuation of the external […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3964,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4055","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nNeurovasculature – Meddists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/lower-limb\/thigh\/neurovasculature\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" 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