Lateral circumflex femoral artery | |
Latin: | arteria circumflexa femoris lateralis |
Branchfrom: | Deep femoral artery |
The lateral circumflex femoral artery (also known as the lateral femoral circumflex artery or the external circumflex artery[1]) is an artery in the upper thigh. It is usually a branch of the profunda femoris artery, and produces three branches. It is mostly distributed to the muscles of the lateral thigh, supplying arterial blood to muscles of the knee extensor group.
The lateral femoral circumflex artery usually arises from the lateral side of the profunda femoris artery, but may occasionally arise directly from the femoral artery. It is the largest branch of the profunda femoris artery.
The lateral circumflex femoral artery usually courses anterior to the femoral neck. It passes horizontally between the divisions of the femoral nerve. It passes posterior to the sartorius muscle and rectus femoris muscle. It passes laterally across the hip joint capsule.[2]
It divides into ascending, transverse, and descending branches.
The lateral circumflex femoral artery has three branches:
The lateral circumflex femoral artery mainly supplies muscles of the lateral thigh, suppliyng the vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris muscles. Due to the fact that it passes across the thickest part of the hip joint capsule, it is in a less suitable position to supply the proximal femur so that most of the arterial supply to the head and neck of the femur is instead afforded by the medial circumflex femoral artery.
Origin
The lateral femoral circumflex artery has a variable origin. In 67% of people, it arises 1.5 cm inferior to the origin of the profunda femoris artery, and in others it arises at different distances from this origin. In up to 20% of people, it arises directly from the femoral artery.
Course
A rare variant, where the lateral circumflex femoral artery passes posterior to the femoral nerve, has also been reported (this is important in orthopaedic surgery).[3]