Anastomoses of Lower Limb Arteries : Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics

- Discussion:
- anastomoses between:
- superior & inferior gluteal arteries and medial & lateral circumflex;
- deep circumflex artery & ascending lateral circumflex femoral
- these vessels provide collateral circulation when femoral artery is occluded above origin of the profunda femoris ;
- internal iliac & profunda femoris can be ligated w/ impunity;
- ligation of external iliac or femoral artery below exit of profunda femoris will restrict blood flow but is not accompanied by gangrene;
- ligation of the femoral artery above the exit of the profunda femoris artery or in adductor canal, or common iliac artery is catatrophic;
- although there is copius arterial communications about knee joint between branches of femoral artery, lateral femoral circumflex artery,
anterior tibial artery, & popliteal artery, there is inadequate collateral circulation to supply leg w/ popliteal disruption;
- numerous anastomoses between anterior & posterior tibial artery maintain viability when either is occluded;