How do I check the femoral pulse?

I haven't been able to locate the spot to feel the pulse in the groin. Where should I be palpating? Also, is checking the femoral pulse something normally done in an exam, real or play?

The femoral pulse can be hard to find in people who aren't thin because it is deep in the muscle. Palpate firmly. In overweight people it may be harder to locate. Here's a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFW37SCUaF0

It may be part of a play exam but is not part of a real exam unless there is a specific reason to do it.

It may be part of a play exam but is not part of a real exam unless there is a specific reason to do it.

Based solely on my own personal history, I beg to differ. I've had doctors (my current doctor as well as others in the past) that regularly check my femoral pulses as part of a full physical exam. And no, I wasn't having any particular issues at the time that would necessarily warrant that. I believe it's just that some doctors include that in their routine and others don't, just like most other parts of an exam.

So while I'd agree that most doctors may not include it in a real exam, some do without a specific reason.

Jimmy, Susie & I are both in NY. Would you like us to make a video of Susie demonstrating how to check my femoral pulse while I'm lying there in a jockstrap ?

Would you like us to make a video of Susie demonstrating how to check my femoral pulse while I'm lying there in a jockstrap ?

Let's see, if you're wearing a 3" wide-band model, she will need to pull down the waistband a little bit in order to check your pulse. If you're wearing a 1" swimmer's strap, then checking your pulse will be much easier. Your choice, but sure, I'd love to see that video.

As a physician I can say that I generally do not do femoral pulses in a routine physical in a healthy person. In anyone whom I suspect to have atherosclerosis or possible arterial blockage, aneurysm or other circulatory disorders it's mandatory. Absent peripheral pulses are a harbinger of bad things to come. I also frequently use the femoral artery to draw blood or the femoral vein to start large bore IVs in. The vein is just medial to the artery. It's on the mainline though, so it must tamponaded afterwards for five minutes to prevent a hematoma.

@Liquidsky, reading your big medical words is a huge turn on for me. And yes, I am being quite serious. Please keep up the great work! Yes please and thank you in advance.

Mashie

In anyone whom I suspect to have atherosclerosis or possible arterial blockage, aneurysm or other circulatory disorders it's mandatory

Would that also apply to a patent that has a family history of such things, but no signs of it themselves?

I ask because my father did have an AAA, and perhaps I've just had doctors that take that kind of family history into account when performing an exam on me.

After my triple A repair in 2014, I see my vascular surgeon every 6 months for a check up. He always orders an abdominal ultra sound and takes my BP in each of my toes, my ankles and both arms. I don't recall him ever taking my pulse in my groin.

I can't think of an aneurysm which is familial Jimmy. Any symptom or complaint would make me palpate femoral pulses though.