Give me list of which artery is palpable against which bone in lower limb
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I now have enough information from the textbooks combined with core anatomy knowledge to give a complete, well-sourced answer.
Here is the complete list of palpable arteries in the lower limb and the bony surface each is compressed against:
Palpable Arteries of the Lower Limb - Artery vs Bone
| # | Artery | Palpated Against (Bone/Structure) | Site of Palpation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Femoral artery | Head of femur (via femoral head) | Mid-inguinal point - midway between the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and the pubic symphysis |
| 2 | Popliteal artery | Posterior aspect of the tibial condyles | Lower part of popliteal fossa, with knee flexed to ~40° |
| 3 | Anterior tibial artery (= Dorsalis pedis on dorsum of foot) | Dorsum of foot over the navicular and intermediate cuneiform bones | Just lateral to the extensor hallucis longus tendon (made taut by extending great toe) |
| 4 | Posterior tibial artery | Posterior to medial malleolus, against the tibia | Midway between the medial malleolus and the heel (calcaneal tuberosity) |
Key Clinical Notes
1. Femoral Artery
- Palpated at the mid-inguinal point (NOT the midpoint of inguinal ligament)
- Lies directly over the femoral head, which acts as the compressible bony surface
- The mid-inguinal point is where the artery enters the femoral triangle
2. Popliteal Artery
- Most difficult to feel because it lies deep in the popliteal fossa
- Knee must be flexed to 40° to relax surrounding muscles
- Pulsation felt against the posterior surface of the tibial condyles (lower popliteal fossa)
- Cannot be felt in the upper popliteal fossa as the artery lies between the two projecting femoral condyles
- Can also be palpated with patient prone and knee passively flexed
3. Anterior Tibial / Dorsalis Pedis Artery
- Continuous vessel - the anterior tibial artery becomes the dorsalis pedis as it crosses the ankle
- On the dorsum of the foot, palpated in the first intermetatarsal space over the cuneiform/navicular bones
- Palpating finger placed lateral to the extensor hallucis longus tendon
- The artery disappears at the proximal end of the first metatarsal space (into the sole) - searching beyond this point is incorrect
4. Posterior Tibial Artery
- Enters the foot through the tarsal tunnel, posterior to the medial malleolus
- Pulse felt midway between the medial malleolus and the heel
- Runs in company with the tibial nerve (nerve lies lateral to the artery)
Memory Aid
"Femur - Tibia - Tibia - Cuneiform" Femoral (femoral head) → Popliteal (tibial condyles) → Posterior tibial (behind medial malleolus/tibia) → Dorsalis pedis (navicular/cuneiform)
Sources: S Das - A Manual on Clinical Surgery, 13th Edition (p. 89-90); Gray's Anatomy for Students; S Das notes popliteal artery pulsation "against the posterior aspect of the tibial condyles" and dorsalis pedis palpation "lateral to the extensor hallucis longus" tendon.
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