Femoral artery facts for kids

Picture showing the location of the femoral artery

The femoral artery is a big blood vessel that carries fresh, oxygen-rich blood from your heart down to your legs. Think of it like a main highway for blood! It starts from a larger artery called the iliac artery, which then splits into two femoral arteries, one for each leg. You can often feel this artery close to the surface of your skin in your groin area.

What is the Femoral Artery?

The femoral artery is a very important artery because it supplies all the blood your leg needs. Arteries are like tubes that carry blood away from your heart. This blood is full of oxygen and nutrients that your muscles and other tissues need to work.

Where is it Located?

The femoral artery starts in your lower belly, where it branches off from the iliac artery. It then travels down into your thigh. In your groin area, it's quite close to the surface of your skin. This is why doctors or paramedics can sometimes feel your pulse there.

Why is it Important?

• Supplies Blood: Its main job is to make sure your entire leg, from your thigh to your foot, gets enough oxygen and nutrients.
• Pulse Point: Because it's close to the surface in the groin, it's a common place to check a person's pulse. This helps medical professionals quickly see how well a person's heart is pumping blood.
• Medical Access: Sometimes, doctors use the femoral artery to put in special tubes (called catheters) for certain medical procedures, like checking your heart or other blood vessels.

How Does Blood Flow Through It?

Blood leaves your heart and travels through a large artery called the aorta. From there, it goes into the iliac arteries, which are in your lower abdomen. Each iliac artery then divides into two, forming the femoral arteries that go down into each leg. As the femoral artery travels down your leg, it branches off into smaller arteries. These smaller branches deliver blood to all the different muscles, bones, and skin in your leg and foot.

Images for kids

• 

  Segments of the femoral artery.

• 

  Structures passing behind the inguinal ligament. (Femoral artery labeled at upper right.)

• 

  Cross-section showing structures surrounding right hip-joint.

• 

  Femoral sheath laid open to show its three compartments.

• 

  The femoral artery.

• 

  Illustration depicting main leg arteries (anterior view).

See also

In Spanish: Arteria femoral para niños