Femoral Artery

An arterial blood gas (ABG) draw is used to analyze the oxygen, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and pH levels of arterial blood, giving the doctor invaluable information concerning a patient's status. Typically drawn from the radial artery in the wrist or the brachial artery at the crook of the elbow, ABGs may also be taken from the femoral artery if the patient has poor circulation in the upper extremities.

If your physician has instructed you to palpate your femoral artery, you can perform this simple procedure at home. This may be done to check for regular blood flow to the legs or simply to measure your pulse.

The femoral artery is the major artery of the thigh. It supplies the blood flow to the thigh and leg, and serves as a pressure point for stopping blood flow in case of severe injury to the lower extremity. The femoral artery is located in the upper third of the thigh, and can be located by palpating the area between the hip and the groin. Once found, the femoral artery will provide a strong pulse, and may serve as a good alternative to taking a person's pulse if the carotid artery is not available.

Collecting blood from the femoral artery in the groin area is less common than collecting blood from other arterial sites, such as the radial artery at the wrist or the brachial artery in the elbow crease. However, because of IV lines, dialysis or other factors, the femoral artery may be the most appropriate site to draw blood for blood tests. Taking blood from any artery requires special techniques and supplies, spelled out in this introductory step-by-step.

The body has many unique parts that make it function, and the femoral artery is one of those that are often overlooked but easy to understand.

An aneurysm is when the walls of a blood vessel become weak and bulge out. Usually aneurysms happen in the aorta, but they can also occur in the peripheral vessels, including the femoral artery. If you experience an aneurysm in your left leg, you will likely experience one in your right. Likewise, once you experience a peripheral aneurysm, you are more likely to experience an aortic aneurysm.

Pain can be caused by many reasons associated with the femoral artery. Pain is usually felt in the legs and feet as blockages of the femoral artery affect the ability of blood to flow down through the legs. There are a number of painful conditions associated with the femoral artery that can, in extreme cases, result in the death of tissue in the feet and toes.

Symptoms of problems with the femoral artery are often painful and in severe cases can become serious problems affecting the entire leg. Although the femoral artery is positioned in the thigh, symptoms affecting the entire leg can be a result of a blocked femoral artery.