A study on the origins of medial circumflex femoral artery

Abstract

Medial circumflex femoral artery is a branch of profundafemoris artery. It arises from the posteromedial aspect of the profundafemoris artery in the femoral triangle. It is an important artery in supplying blood to the head and neck of the femur, to the adductor muscles and to fatty tissue in the acetabular fossa. Because of its close relationship with this area there is a high risk of severing the artery after trauma or during operations such as total hip arthroplasty. The material for the present study comprises of 40 lower limbs of adult human cadavers irrespective of their sex. The study was done by dissection method. In 6 extremities (15%) medial circumflex femoral artery was originated directly from femoral artery. In 7 extremities (17.5%) a common trunk was observed form medial circumflex femoral and deep external pudendal arteries. Normal study was observed in 27 extremities (67.5%). These variations of the origins of Medial circumflex femoral artery needs to be taken into account and considered in all the surgical and interventional procedures.