Arteries of the Hindlimb - Anatomy & Physiology

The abdominal aorta terminates by branching into the external iliac arteries and the internal iliac arteries. It is these arteries that supply the hindlimb and pelvis.

(Note: Although the information below is based around the anatomy of the canine hindlimb, it is essentially the anatomy of the arteries in similar domestic species. Any major differences will be discussed on their respective pages.)

The Internal Iliac Artery

These are paired arteries, a right and a left branch, which is one of the terminal branches of the aorta. It provides a blood supply to the pelvic viscera, the walls of the pelvic cavity and the lumbar and gluteal muscle masses. The following describes the initial branches (in order) of when they branch off and arteries of particular relevance to the hindlimb will be indicated.

The median sacral artery arises from either the left or right internal iliac and supplies the sacrum and tail. The internal pudendal artery is the primary branch of the internal iliac and provides blood to the reproductive organs and urinary tract. The caudal gluteal artery supplies the superficial gluteal muscle and the proximal 'hamstring muscles'. The iliolumbar artery is the first branch of the caudal gluteal and supplies the psoas minor, iliopsoas, sartorius, tensor fascia lata and the middle gluteal muscles. The cranial gluteal artery arises from the caudal gluteal and passes over the greater ischiatic notch and supplies the gluteal muscles. The tail is supplied by the lateral caudal artery whilst the dorsal perineal artery supplies the perineum.

External Iliac Artery

The external iliac artery is the principal artery of the hindlimb. Once it branches from the aorta it runs along the ilial body. Prior to entering the femoral canal (formed by the sartorius cranially and the gracilis and pectineus caudally) it detaches the deep femoral artery and on leaving the abdomen the external iliac continues as the femoral artery. The femoral artery continues between the adductor muscles on the medial aspect of the thigh to reach the caudal side of the stifle. Here it continues as the popliteal artery.

Below are the arteries in the order in which they branch off the external iliac, femoral and popliteal arteries:

• External iliac a.
  • Deep femoral a. - arises in the abdomen near the femoral canal and gives rise to the short pudendoepigastric trunk before continuing as the medial circumflex femoral artery.
    • The pudendoepigastric trunk
      • Caudal Epigastric a. - runs cranially on the deep aspect of the straight abdominal muscles.
      • External Pudendal a. - runs through the inguinal canal and branches off to supply numerous reproductive structures.
  • Medial circumflex femoral a. - its supplies the caudal half of the rectus abdominus and the muscles of the medial thigh.

• Femoral a.
  • Superficial circumflex iliac a. - it supplies the sartorius, tensor fascia lata and rectus femoris.
  • Lateral circumflex femoral a. - branches off with the superficial circumflex; it supplies the quadriceps, tensor fascia lata, the superficial and middle gluteals, and the hip joint capsule.
  • Proximal caudal femoral a. - branches off at the mid-thigh region and supplies the pectineus, adductor muscles and gracilis.
  • Saphenous a. - arises proximal to the stifle and supplies the skin on the medial aspect of the stifle. It branches into a cranial and caudal branch. This artery and its vessels lie very superficially. The cranial branch gives rise to the dorsal common digital arteries and the caudal gives rise to the plantar common digital arteries; both of which supply the foot.
  • Descending genincular a. - supplies the medial surface of the stifle.
  • Middle caudal femoral a. - supplies the distal parts of the adductor and semimembranosus muscles.
  • Distal caudal femoral a. - the last branch of the femoral artery before it becomes the politeal artery. It supplies the biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gastrocnemius and the digital flexors.

• Popliteal a. - supplies the stifle, gastrocnemius, popliteal muscle and terminates by branching into the cranial and caudal tibial arteries.
  • Cranial tibial a. - supplies the peroneus longus, long digital extensor and cranial tibial muscles.
    • Dorsal Pedal a. - a continuation of the cranial tibial artery, it runs over the flexor surface of the tarsus and supplies the tarsus.
      • Arcuate a. - the main blood supply to the foot.
        • Dorsal metatarsal aa. - supplies the paw dorsally.
          • Perforating branch - this anastomoses with the caudal branch of the saphenous artery and contribute to the plantar metatarsal arteries that supply the digits.
  • Caudal tibial a. - a small branch that lies in the interosseous space between the tibia and fibula.