A pulse is the rhythmic throbbing felt as blood is pumped through arteries with each heartbeat. It indicates heart rate and the force of blood circulation.
Locating the Femoral Pulse
The femoral pulse is in the groin, along the femoral artery. To find it, locate the mid-inguinal point, halfway between the pubic bone and the anterior superior iliac spine (a bony prominence at the front of the hip).
To palpate the femoral pulse, lie the person flat with their thigh slightly abducted to relax the muscles. Place your index and middle fingers, or even two hands stacked, gently but firmly over the mid-inguinal point. You should press deeply enough to feel a distinct, rhythmic throbbing beneath your fingertips.
The femoral pulse should be easily identifiable in most individuals, though a significant amount of subcutaneous fat might require firmer pressure. It is important to distinguish the pulse from other structures, such as lymph nodes, which can also be felt in the groin area.
Why the Femoral Pulse Matters
The femoral pulse is important in medical and emergency scenarios due to its direct connection to central circulation.
In emergency situations, such as assessing for shock or during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the femoral pulse is often checked, especially when other peripheral pulses, like those in the wrist or foot, are difficult to find. Its presence indicates that blood is still circulating from the heart to the lower extremities.
Assessing the femoral pulse can provide insights into conditions affecting blood flow. A diminished or absent femoral pulse, especially when compared to a normal pulse in the arm, can indicate an obstruction in the arteries, such as in cases of peripheral artery disease or aortic coarctation.
An exaggerated or bounding femoral pulse might suggest conditions like an aortic aneurysm or aortic regurgitation.
The femoral artery is frequently used as a site for arterial access in medical procedures. This includes procedures like angiography, where a catheter is inserted into the artery to visualize blood vessels, or for placement of an arterial line to continuously monitor blood pressure.
Its relatively large size and superficial location in the groin make it a common and reliable access point for these interventions.