Observations of two uncommon variations for proximal branches of the femoral artery

Abstract

Normal variations of the subcutaneous and deep branches of the proximal part of the femoral artery are commonly observed on cadavers. Our study involves observations and descriptions of the deep branches of the proximal part of the femoral artery. These branches typically occur inferior to the subcutaneous arteries and include the deep femoral artery and the medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries. The circumflex femoral arteries may arise from the deep femoral artery as a common trunk or with separate, distinct origins. The circumflex femoral arteries have also been reported as independent branches that arise from the femoral artery. Herein we describe two variations of the circumflex femoral arteries that have not previously been observed. First, we observed an unusually long common trunk for the medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries that arises from the femoral artery inferior to the subcutaneous branches, but superior to the branch of the deep femoral artery. In addition, the common trunk of the circumflex femoral arteries is similar in diameter to the deep femoral artery. The second variation observed is a common trunk for the medial circumflex femoral and inferior epigastric arteries that arise from the femoral artery superior to the deep femoral artery.