Anatomy of the lower limb arteries and bones: angiographic 3D view

Anatomy of the lower limb arteries and bones: angiographic 3D view

Anatomy of the lower limb arteries and bones: angiographic 3D view

  • Antoine MICHEAU, MD , Denis HOA, MD
    • Antoine MICHEAU, MD : 2 Allée Charles Darwin, 34170 Castelnau-le-lez
    • Denis HOA, MD : 2 Allée Charles Darwin, 34170 Castelnau-le-lez
  • Publication date: Aug 8, 2008 | Last update: Mar 18, 2025
  • https://doi.org/10.37019/e-anatomy/186 ISSN 2534-5079

 

 

Anatomy of the arteries and bones of the lower limb based on 3D pictures and angiogram (angiography).
Anatomy of the arteries and bones of the lower limb based on 3D pictures and angiogram (angiography).

 

This part of the interactive atlas of anatomy of the human body is about the arterial vasculature of the pelvic girdle, pelvis, thigh, knee, leg and foot and the study of bones and joints. It includes a 3D reconstruction of bones and arteries from angioCT with injection of a contrast agent (iodine), an angiographic view correlated with the 3D view of the skeleton of the lower limb.

 

Bone and artery of the pelvic girdle : anatomy based on medical imaging (3D images and angiogram adapted from computed tomography)
Bone and artery of the pelvic girdle : anatomy based on medical imaging (3D images and angiogram adapted from computed tomography)

 

Detailed procedure of this interactive atlas of the lower limb anatomy:

We selected a normal angioCT (Computed Tomography) exam of lower limbs: acquisition was made with helical multidetector CT (MDCT) after injection of iodized contrast. The axial images were post-processed using software post-treatment on a workstation for a multimodal reconstruction and a 3D view of the bone and blood vessels, then a similar angiographic view was created.

 

Angiography (angiogram) adapted from angioCT showing all pelvic arteries labeled : internal and external artery, pudendal artery, gluteal artery, femoral artery...
Angiography (angiogram) adapted from angioCT showing all pelvic arteries labeled : internal and external artery, pudendal artery, gluteal artery, femoral artery...

 

The DICOM images were exported and then integrated using Adobe Animate to create this anatomy module. The anatomical structures were labeled on the 3D view.

 

Normal arteriography of the leg : image adapted from MDCT (MIP) showing  popliteal ,fibular, anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery
Normal arteriography of the leg : image adapted from MDCT (MIP) showing popliteal ,fibular, anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery

 

The anatomical structures were labeled by Antoine Micheau M.D. (Radiologist, Montpellier – France), using the Terminologia Anatomica.

 

Peripheral vascular imaging of the lower limb:  

We preferred to use an angioCT of the lower limb rather than a digital arteriography because it allows the user to make a correlation between angiographic views of arteries with three-dimensional structures.

The 3D/angiographies tab can be used to select these two kinds of view.

The fields of view are the ones routinely used for angiography: a global vision of the entire arterial vasculature (from the aorta to the foot) and then 3 specific fields of view: iliac, femoral and tripod arteries

We divided the labels of the arteries into different groups: aorta and its branches, internal iliac artery and its branches, external iliac artery and its branches. This decreases the number of labels shown on each image and provides a better educational approach.

Only the arteries visible on the 3D view were labeled, this explains why on the angiographic view some arteries are visible only under particular rotation angles.

This module is designed for anatomy teachers, including vascular disease, medical students and paramedical students (nurses, radiology technicians), but also practitioners in vascular medicine, ultrasound and Doppler examination, vascular surgery, interventional radiology, cardiology, angiology and endocrinology. It facilitates the study of arterial diseases of the lower limbs (atheroma, atherosclerosis), embolizations in emergencies, balloon angioplasties or stents, vascular bypass, gynecologic embolizations (uterine fibroids, Primary Post-Partum Haemorrhages). Note: the patient is male so there are some differences with the female pelvis vasculature.

This module is less specific than slice imaging modules, so it is helpful for all who are curious about skeletal and vascular anatomy and pathology of the lower limb:

  • Medical students studying medical degrees and bachelor degrees (MBBS, MBChB, MD, DO, MDCM, BMed, etc) or United States Medical Licensing Examination
  • Nursing assistants, orderlies, auxiliary nurses, medical assistants, registered nurses or licensed practical nurses
  • Hospital volunteers
  • EMTs and Paramedics
  • Technicians, phlebotomy technicians, surgical technologists, and technicians trained to operate equipment such as X-ray machines
  • Medical practitioners
  • Pharmacists
  • Medical technologists and physical therapists working with nursing staff
  • Anatomy teachers or professors from medical universities, medical schools or faculty of medicine
  • Surgery residents or fellows, orthopedic surgeons
  • Rheumatologists, podiatrists
  • Any Medical Doctor who wishes to explain a musculoskeletal pathology to a patient: fracture, sprain, arthritis

 

Anatomy of the arteries and bones of the lower limb based on 3D pictures and angiogram (angiography).
Anatomy of the arteries and bones of the lower limb based on 3D pictures and angiogram (angiography).
Bone and artery of the pelvic girdle : anatomy based on medical imaging (3D images and angiogram adapted from computed tomography)
Bone and artery of the pelvic girdle : anatomy based on medical imaging (3D images and angiogram adapted from computed tomography)
Angiography (angiogram) adapted from angioCT showing all pelvic arteries labeled : internal and external artery, pudendal artery, gluteal artery, femoral artery...
Angiography (angiogram) adapted from angioCT showing all pelvic arteries labeled : internal and external artery, pudendal artery, gluteal artery, femoral artery...
Normal arteriography of the leg : image adapted from MDCT (MIP) showing  popliteal ,fibular, anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery
Normal arteriography of the leg : image adapted from MDCT (MIP) showing popliteal ,fibular, anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery
  • Atlas of Human Anatomy, Professional Edition by Frank H. Netter · Publisher: Saunders; 4 edition (July 13, 2006) Language: English · ISBN-10: 1416036997 · ISBN-13: 978-1416036999
  • Terminologia Anatomica: International Anatomical Terminology by FCAT · Publisher: Thieme Medical Publishers; Bilingual edition (January 1, 2000) · Language: Latin/english · ISBN-10: 0865778086 · ISBN-13: 978-0865778085
  • Diagnostic and Surgical Imaging Anatomy: Musculoskeletal (International Edition): Published by Amirsys · Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1 edition (December 1, 2006) · Language: English · ISBN-10: 1931884323 · ISBN-13: 978-1931884327