Medial circumflex femoral artery
Arteria circumflexa medialis femoris
A branch of the deep femoral artery that winds behind the femoral neck and gives the main blood supply of the femoral head.
At a glance
- English
- Medial circumflex femoral artery
- Latin (TA2)
- Arteria circumflexa medialis femoris
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Lower limb
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the medial circumflex femoral artery
The medial circumflex femoral artery usually arises from the medial and posterior side of the deep femoral artery near its origin, though it can come directly from the femoral artery. It passes backwards between pectineus and iliopsoas, and then between obturator externus and adductor brevis, curving round the medial side of the femur towards the back of the hip.
Along this course it gives muscular branches to the adductors and an acetabular branch, which enters the hip joint through the acetabular notch and runs in the ligament of the head of the femur. Its continuing deep branch passes behind the femoral neck, between quadratus femoris and the tendons of obturator externus and the gemelli, towards the trochanteric fossa.
From the deep branch arise the retinacular arteries, which run up along the back and top of the femoral neck beneath the synovial membrane to enter the head near the edge of the articular cartilage. In adults these are the main blood supply of the femoral head. The artery also takes part in the cruciate anastomosis behind the upper femur, with the lateral circumflex femoral, the inferior gluteal and the first perforating arteries.
Its importance is clinical as much as anatomical. A displaced fracture of the femoral neck inside the joint capsule tears the retinacular vessels and may lead to avascular necrosis of the femoral head, which is why such fractures are often treated by replacing the head. Surgeons using a posterior or surgical dislocation approach to the hip protect the deep branch by keeping clear of quadratus femoris and the tendon of obturator externus.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- The deep femoral artery near its origin, or sometimes the femoral artery directly.
- Ends in
- Ends in the retinacular arteries of the femoral neck and the cruciate anastomosis behind the upper femur.
- Supplies
- Supplies the adductor muscles, the hip joint and, through its retinacular branches, most of the femoral head and neck.
Anthromica
See the medial circumflex femoral artery where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
