The arterial blood supply to the lower limbs is provided by blood vessels that originate from the right and left common iliac arteries. These arteries arise from the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra (L4).

Both common iliac arteries descend along the medial side of the psoas major until each of them reaches the level of the sacroiliac joint, dividing into two terminal branches - the internal iliac artery and external iliac artery.

In the thigh, the external iliac artery continues as the major blood vessel that supplies the lower limb, namely, the femoral artery.