The lateral circumflex femoral artery is an artery of the thigh region. It is a branch of the deep femoral artery.
It supplies the structures of the anterolateral thigh.
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The lateral circumflex femoral artery is a branch of the deep femoral artery.
After its origin, the lateral circumflex femoral artery travels laterally, passing between the anterior and posterior divisions of the femoral nerve.
It then courses deep to the sartorius and rectus femoris muscles – where it winds around the lateral aspect of the femur and divides into three branches:
- Ascending branch – travels superiorly along the intertrochanteric line of the femur to reach the hip joint.
- Transverse branch – travels laterally along the anterior surface of the vastus intermedius muscle. It then pierces the vastus lateralis and wraps around the anterior aspect of the femoral neck.
- Descending branch – travels inferiorly between the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles towards the knee joint.
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The lateral femoral circumflex artery supplies structures within the thigh region via its three branches:
- Ascending branch – supplies the tensor fascia lata and overlying skin, femoral neck, head and hip joint.
- Transverse branch – contributes to the supply of the proximal femur and thigh via the cruciate anastomosis.
- Descending branch – supplies the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, skin of the anterolateral thigh and knee joint.