A Report on a Novel Variation of the Lateral Circumflex Femoral Artery Among Humans

Abstract

The medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries are critical to the proper perfusion and function of the hip joint. The lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) is used a graft material in coronary artery bypass, and tissue flaps that include this artery, are harvested for plastic surgery reconstructions. Although the two circumflex femoral arteries typically originate from the deep (profunda) femoral artery (DFA), variations in their origins have been reported. Here we report on a unique variation of the LCFA in a donor body. A cadaveric dissection of the anterior thigh was bilaterally performed at the University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine to demonstrate the origin and branching of the LCFA. Bilateral asymmetry in the origin of the LCFA and the medial circumflex femoral artery (MCFA) was observed in this cadaver. On the left side, the LCFA originated from the common femoral artery (CFA) deep to the inguinal ligament. On the right side of the body, the LCFA originated from the DFA. While the MCFA took origin from the DFA on the left side of the body, it shared a common origin with the DFA from the CFA on the right side. In summary, we report a unique unilateral variation of the LCFA where it originates from the CFA deep to the inguinal ligament. This high origin for the LCFA, at the boundary between the external iliac and femoral arteries, has not been previously reported and is unique even among mammals. It is important to determine the branching patterns of the LCFA and the derivative branches of the femoral artery as they are critical arterial pathways for the lower limbs and because the LCFA is a target in coronary grafts and plastic surgery skin flaps.