Technique of femoral artery puncture. The femoral artery can be palpated just below the midpoint of the inguinal ligament. The needle should be inserted at a 90 degree angle toward the pulsation for a single sampling of arterial blood. For catheter placement, the needle should be inserted at a 45 degree angle in a cephalad direction (as shown).
Adapted from the American Heart Association. Textbook of Advanced Cardiac Life Support 1994.
