The magic that gives life to our legs! Everything about the Femoral Artery

Have you ever wondered how your legs get so much energy and vitality when you climb a flight of stairs or go for a long walk with your pet dog? Today we are going to talk about a very important blood vessel that helps us run, jump, and dance, and gives life to our lower body, especially our legs. It is the Femoral Artery , or in Sinhala , the main artery of the thigh . This is like a main pipe that supplies fuel to our legs.

What does this so-called femoral artery do?

Simply put, your femoral artery and the small branches that branch off from it supply blood to your lower body, from your lower abdomen to your toes. Just think, all the cells and tissues in our body need oxygen and nutrients to function. Just like our cars need gasoline and diesel. That precious oxygen-rich, clean blood, full of nutrients, is carried from the heart throughout the body by arteries, or arteries. So, this femoral artery also does that service, especially for our legs.

This femoral artery runs very close to, or parallel to, another large vein. We call it the femoral vein . A vein is a vein that carries dirty blood, that is, used, oxygen-poor blood back to the heart. So these two, the femoral artery and the femoral vein , work together like brothers to maintain proper blood circulation in our legs.

Where is the femoral artery located?

Okay, now let's see where exactly this femoral artery is located in our body. At the top of your thigh, just below the groin, which is where your belly ends and your legs begin, there is a small triangular space. In medicine, we call it the 'femoral triangle' . That's where this femoral artery starts. Starting from there, it comes pretty straight down the thigh and ends behind the knee. Near the knee, this femoral artery becomes another name, which is the 'popliteal artery' and goes even lower.

What are the main parts of the femoral artery?

Although the femoral artery is a single long tube, it has several main sections and branches that branch off from them, much like branches branching off the trunk of a large tree.

Common Femoral Artery

This is the first part of the femoral artery. It begins as an extension of the 'External Iliac Artery' in our pelvis . Several small branches divide from this part and supply blood to the lower abdominal wall, the groin area, and surrounding tissues. For example,It has branches called the Superficial Circumflex Artery, the Superficial External Pudendal Artery , and the Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery .

Deep Femoral Artery

This is an artery that branches off the common femoral artery mentioned above and goes a little deeper. Another name for this is the profunda femoris artery . It also branches off into other branches, such as the medial circumflex artery and the lateral circumflex artery . This deep femoral artery supplies blood to our femur, hip, buttocks, and deep tissues of the thigh.

Superficial Femoral Artery

This is the part that goes down after the common femoral artery. Although the name says "superficial", it is actually located a little deeper. It supplies blood to the lower parts of the leg, that is, the muscles in the front of the thigh and part of the knee.

How big is the femoral artery?

The Common Femoral Artery, which was mentioned earlier, is usually about four centimeters (about an inch and a half) long. Then the deep and superficial parts go down the leg. The diameter, or thickness, of this artery can vary from person to person. It varies a bit with things like gender, weight, height, and ethnicity. But it is usually between 7 and 8 millimeters (about a quarter of an inch) thick.

The relatively large diameter of the common femoral artery makes it useful in some medical procedures, especially endovascular procedures . A surgeon can insert a thin, flexible tube, called a catheter , through the femoral artery to reach other blood vessels in the body, especially those near the heart.

What are the layers of the wall of the femoral artery?

Like every other artery in our body, the wall of the femoral artery is made up of three main layers:

• Tunica intima: This is the innermost layer. This is what helps the blood flow smoothly without getting clogged. It also helps control blood pressure , prevent blood clotting, and stop toxins from accumulating in the blood.
• Media: This is the middle layer. It is slightly elastic. Therefore, it helps the blood to flow in one direction. It is also this layer called media that helps the blood vessels to contract and dilate as needed.
• Adventitia:This is the outermost layer. It gives the blood vessels their shape and strength. This layer contains tiny blood vessels, which supply the walls of the femoral artery with oxygen and nutrients.

What are the common conditions that affect the femoral artery?

Unfortunately, our femoral artery can also develop various diseases. The main ones are:

• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): This is the most common condition affecting the femoral artery. It is caused by the buildup of fatty deposits (also called atheroma plaques) inside the artery walls, which narrows the artery.
• Blood clots: A blood clot can form inside an artery and become blocked.
• Aneurysms : This is when the wall of a blood vessel weakens and bulges like a balloon. This can burst, which is very dangerous.

What are the common characteristics of these conditions?

If there is a problem with your femoral artery, you may experience symptoms like these:

• Pain and fatigue in the legs, especially the calves, when walking. This subsides after a short rest.
• The leg swells, or it feels like there is a pressure inside the leg.
• Wounds on the legs, especially the feet, take a long time to heal.
• The skin on the leg changes color (turns pale, looks like it's turning blue).
• The legs go numb, or the legs feel cold.

Important: If you have any of these symptoms, please see a doctor. It is very important to treat these before they become serious.

Common tests that check the health of the femoral artery

In addition to a doctor examining you, the following tests can be performed to determine the exact condition of the femoral artery:

• Ankle-brachial index (ABI): This measures blood pressure in the leg and arm.
• Pulse volume recording: Measures the amount of blood flowing in the leg.
• Doppler ultrasound: This is a scan that can look at the way blood flows inside the blood vessels and whether there are any blockages.
• CT angiogram (Computed Tomography Angiogram): This is also a special scan. It can take detailed images of the blood vessels.
• MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiogram): This is also a scan that uses magnetic waves.
• D-dimer test: This blood test is done if there is suspicion of blood clots.

What are the treatments for the femoral artery?

Treatment options vary depending on the problem with the femoral artery. Some common treatments include:

• Medications: Medications for high blood pressure ( antihypertensives ), blood thinners , and cholesterol-lowering medications.
• Physical activity: Exercise as directed by a doctor.
• Angioplasty: This involves inserting a small balloon into the blocked artery and inflating it to widen the artery. Sometimes a small mesh-like structure called a stent is inserted to prevent it from becoming blocked again.
• Peripheral artery bypass surgery: A surgery that creates a new route for blood to flow around a blocked artery.
• Surgical removal of a blood clot or fatty deposits (plaque).
• If there is an aneurysm, it is repaired surgically.

How can I keep my femoral artery healthy?

"Prevention is better than cure." That means it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it after it has occurred. So, here are some things you can do to keep not only the femoral artery, but all the other blood vessels in our body healthy:

• Healthy diet: Eat a diet low in salt, cholesterol, and saturated fat, and high in fruits and vegetables.
• Regular exercise: Do something like walking for at least 30 minutes a day.
• Control your blood pressure: If you have high blood pressure, take your medication properly and follow your doctor's instructions.
• Avoid using tobacco products: Smoking is very harmful to blood vessels.
• Reduce alcohol consumption: Stay away from alcohol as much as possible.
• Maintain healthy blood sugar levels: If you have diabetes, control it well.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.

What happens if the femoral artery is completely blocked?

A sudden, complete blockage of the femoral artery is a medical emergency . If this happens, you should go to the hospital immediately. Symptoms may include:

• My legs are numb, I can't move them.
• My legs are tingling.
• I have severe, unbearable leg pain.
• The leg suddenly becomes as cold as ice.
• The skin on the leg suddenly turns pale or turns blue.

Over time, as the artery gradually narrows, you may experience pain and fatigue when walking, which can feel like your hair is falling out. In some extreme cases, if an artery supplying blood to the leg is blocked for a long time, the tissues can die from lack of oxygen. If that happens, you may need to have your toes, feet, or even your entire leg amputated ( amputation) . That's why it's so important to be aware of this.

What happens if the femoral artery is cut or damaged?

The femoral artery is a large artery, so if it is injured or cut, it can bleed a lot. This is also a medical emergency. If you get treatment quickly, doctors can repair the femoral artery and save the leg. However, if the blood supply to the leg is cut off, the tissue dies without oxygen, and the leg can be lost, and the excessive bleeding can be life-threatening.

What does femoral artery pain feel like?

When the femoral artery is blocked, the surrounding muscles do not get enough oxygen, which causes pain. As the artery gradually becomes blocked, the pain first occurs during exercise (such as walking). Later, the pain may also occur when the leg is elevated at night. However, if the artery is blocked suddenly, the pain is much more severe. This pain may feel like someone is squeezing the inside of the leg, or like hair is being pulled out. It may also be accompanied by numbness, paleness, and difficulty moving the leg.

Finally, remember this.

We may not think much about the femoral artery in our daily lives, but if you experience leg pain when you walk, it's likely due to a problem with your femoral artery. If this major blood vessel becomes blocked, the amount of blood that reaches your legs decreases.

But there's good news! By controlling your blood pressure, staying active, eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling your diabetes, and quitting smoking, you can greatly reduce your risk of developing femoral artery problems. Your health is in your hands! So, think about your legs. They carry you everywhere!

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