Some radiologists, vascular surgeons and other specialist physicians refer to the femoral artery the "superficial femoral artery" after the profunda femoris artery branch point to differentiate the femoral artery segments before and after the branch point. This term, historically, has not been used by anatomists, and has fallen out of favour with most physicians because it has led to considerable confusion with its accompanying vein, the femoral vein, which if called "superficial femoral vein" might incorrectly be assumed to be a superficial vein, as opposed to a deep vein.
Additional images
Structures surrounding right hip-joint.
Cross-section through the middle of the thigh.
Femoral sheath laid open to show its three compartments.
The left femoral triangle.
The femoral artery.
The spermatic cord in the inguinal canal.
Front of right thigh, showing surface markings for bones, femoral artery and femoral nerve.
