Fatty material may be deposited in the arteries which can lead to a
narrowing or “stenosis” and thereby reduces blood supply to the legs.
Alternatively, the wall of the artery may become weakened and stretched. This
swelling which can burst is referred to as an aneurysm. Aneurysms most often
occur in the abdominal part of the aorta (the main artery of the body) just below
the diaphragm. At about the level of the navel (umbilicus) the aorta divides
into two, one branch going to each leg. Another area where an aneurysm can
this is called a
occur is behind the knee in the so-called popliteal artery
popliteal aneurysm.
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