During coronary angioplasty how are catheters inserted into the femoral artery to the heart?

Depends: Depending on the arterial access , a single IV like catheter is placed called an arterial sheath. All catheters are fed thru the sheath using a j-shaped guide wire. Most sheaths are placed in the femoral artery others in the radial arteries. All arteries lead back to the heart in a retrograde fashion and the catheter is manipulated into the artery of intrest for repair with angioplaty and stent.