Lateral circumflex femoral artery
Last revised by Joachim Feger on 15 Jan 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Jones J, Feger J, Fahrenhorst-Jones T, et al. Lateral circumflex femoral artery. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 28 Nov 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-24869
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rID:
24869
Article created:
17 Sep 2013, Jeremy Jones ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeremy Jones's current disclosuresLast revised:
15 Jan 2022, Joachim Feger ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Joachim Feger had no recorded disclosures.
View Joachim Feger's current disclosuresRevisions:
8 times, by 7 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Lateral femoral circumflex artery
The lateral circumflex femoral artery is a branch of the profunda femoris artery that arises from its lateral aspect just after the medial circumflex femoral artery.
While the medial circumflex runs posteriorly around the femoral neck, the lateral circumflex courses laterally from its origin and anterior to the femoral neck.
The lateral circumflex femoral artery passes in between the branches of the femoral nerve in most individuals, dividing it into superficial and deep branches 1.
Summary
- origin: profunda femoris
-
branches:
- an ascending branch that joins the trochanteric anastomosis
- a transverse branch that joins the cruciate anastomosis
- descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery
- supply: femoral neck
Variant anatomy
- anomalous course of the lateral circumflex femoral artery where it courses posterior to the femoral nerve 2
References
- 1. Orebaugh S. The Femoral Nerve and Its Relationship to the Lateral Circumflex Femoral Artery. Anesth Analg. 2006;102(6):1859-62. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000217210.44764.0e - Pubmed
- 2. Goel S, Arora J, Mehta V, Sharma M, Suri R, Rath G. Unusual Disposition of Lateral Circumflex Femoral Artery: Anatomical Description and Clinical Implications. World J Clin Cases. 2015;3(1):85-8. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v3.i1.85 - Pubmed
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Articles:
- Superficial circumflex iliac artery
- Profunda femoris branches (mnemonic)
- Vastus intermedius muscle
- Vastus lateralis muscle
- Tensor fasciae latae muscle
- Descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery
- Trochanteric anastomosis
- Hip joint
- Superior gluteal artery
- Cruciate anastomosis
- Articularis genu muscle
- Deep circumflex iliac artery
- Femoral nerve
- Proximal femoral fractures
- Medial circumflex femoral artery
- Profunda femoris artery
- Femoroacetabular joint
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