Lateral circumflex femoral artery

At a glance

English

Lateral circumflex femoral artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria circumflexa lateralis femoris

System

Artery

Region

Lower limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the lateral circumflex femoral artery

This artery, also called the lateral femoral circumflex or external circumflex artery, is a vessel of the upper thigh. In most people it comes off the lateral side of the deep femoral artery close to that vessel's origin, typically about a centimetre or two below it, and it is the largest of the profunda branches. In up to a fifth of people it springs straight from the femoral artery instead.

From its origin it runs horizontally outwards, threading between the branches of the femoral nerve, and then passes behind sartorius and rectus femoris. It usually lies in front of the neck of the femur. Before long it splits into three branches that fan out upwards, sideways and downwards.

The ascending branch climbs under tensor fasciae latae to the outer side of the hip, where it links with branches of the deep circumflex iliac and superior gluteal arteries. The transverse branch is the smallest; it crosses vastus intermedius, pierces vastus lateralis and winds round the femur a little under the greater trochanter, joining the medial circumflex femoral, inferior gluteal and first perforating arteries behind the upper thigh in the cruciate anastomosis. The descending branch runs down behind rectus femoris on vastus lateralis with the nerve to that muscle, and a long branch reaches the knee to join the superior lateral genicular artery.

The artery therefore supplies the quadriceps, the lateral hip muscles and part of the hip joint, and links the femoral, gluteal and genicular territories. Its descending branch is the usual pedicle of the anterolateral thigh flap. Surgeons approaching the hip from the front must expect it, and a rare variant passing behind the femoral nerve has been reported that matters in orthopaedic exposures.

Course and supply

Arises from

Comes off the outer side of the deep femoral artery near its origin; in up to about one person in five the femoral artery gives it off directly.

Ends in

Splits into three branches, ascending, transverse and descending, which join the superior gluteal, deep circumflex iliac, medial circumflex, inferior gluteal, first perforating and superior lateral genicular arteries.

Supplies

Supplies the quadriceps, tensor fasciae latae and the lateral hip region, part of the hip joint and the skin of the anterolateral thigh.