Superficial epigastric artery
Arteria epigastrica superficialis
A small branch of the femoral artery that turns up over the inguinal ligament to supply the skin of the lower abdomen.
At a glance
- English
- Superficial epigastric artery
- Latin (TA2)
- Arteria epigastrica superficialis
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Lower limb
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the superficial epigastric artery
The superficial epigastric artery is one of the small superficial branches given off by the femoral artery just below the groin. It is distinct from the superior epigastric artery, a deep vessel that descends inside the rectus sheath from the internal thoracic artery.
It leaves the anterior face of the femoral artery roughly a centimetre below the inguinal ligament. It passes forwards, piercing the femoral sheath and then the cribriform fascia, the sieve-like part of the fascia lata covering the saphenous opening, and so reaches the subcutaneous tissue. There it turns sharply upwards, crosses anterior to the inguinal ligament and climbs on the lower abdominal wall. It runs between the fatty superficial layer and the membranous deeper layer of the superficial fascia, and may reach almost to the level of the umbilicus. A superficial epigastric vein of the same name runs nearby and drains into the great saphenous vein.
Along its course it sends branches to the superficial inguinal lymph nodes, to the superficial fascia and to the skin and fat of the lower abdomen. Its branches join those of the inferior epigastric artery, which lies deep to the muscles, and those of the opposite superficial epigastric artery across the midline.
The vessel is variable in size and is sometimes absent or shares a trunk with the superficial circumflex iliac artery. When it is large it can serve as the pedicle of a superficial inferior epigastric artery flap, a skin and fat flap that can be raised without cutting the abdominal muscles. It is also met when hernias, varicose veins and groin lymph nodes are operated on.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- Leaves the anterior surface of the femoral artery roughly 1 cm beneath the inguinal ligament.
- Ends in
- Ends in the superficial fascia of the lower abdominal wall, reaching close to the umbilicus, joining the inferior epigastric artery and its fellow of the other side.
- Supplies
- Supplies the superficial inguinal lymph nodes and the skin and superficial fascia of the lower abdomen.
Anthromica
See the superficial epigastric artery where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
