A therapist reviews the medical record to determine a patient's ankle-brachial index. Which lower extremity locations would be utilized to obtain this measure?

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a crucial measurement utilized to assess peripheral artery disease (PAD) and involves comparing the blood pressure in the patient's ankle with the blood pressure in their arm. To determine the ABI accurately, specific arteries in the lower extremity are assessed.

The dorsalis pedis artery is one of the primary locations for measuring the systolic blood pressure at the ankle. It is easily accessible and provides a reliable representation of the blood flow to the foot. To quantify the ABI, the systolic pressure at the dorsalis pedis is compared to the systolic pressure at the brachial artery of the arm. This reflects the hemodynamics of the lower extremities and is an essential step in evaluating vascular health.

While other arteries such as the femoral artery, popliteal artery, and lateral plantar artery may be involved in the overall assessment of blood flow in the lower extremities, the dorsalis pedis artery specifically is the correct site for obtaining the measurement necessary for calculating the ankle-brachial index.