The femoral artery becomes the popliteal artery as it passes through which structure?

• A Adductor (Hunter's) canal in the mid-thigh
• B Adductor hiatus (gap in the adductor magnus tendon) ✓
• C Tendinous arch of the soleus muscle
• D Femoral ring below the inguinal ligament

Explanation

The femoral artery descends through the femoral triangle and then enters the adductor (Hunter's) canal in the mid-thigh, where it is accompanied by the femoral vein and the saphenous nerve. At the lower end of the adductor canal, it passes through the adductor hiatus — a gap in the tendon of adductor magnus — to enter the popliteal fossa, where it becomes the popliteal artery. The tendinous arch of the soleus is where the popliteal artery divides into anterior and posterior tibial arteries. This anatomy is important in popliteal artery aneurysm and in surgical approaches for femoral-popliteal bypass.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.