- Discussion:
- usually arises from lateral side of
deep femoral artery;
- in 15% of pts, it arises from
femoral artery above profunda;
- LFCA passes laterally in front of
Psoas
& between branches of
Femoral Nerve;
- passes deep to
Sartorius &
rectus femoris, and divides into
anterior,
transverse, and
descending branches;
-
ascending branch
- passes upward beneath
Rectus Femoris &
Tensor Fascia Lata;
- it anastomoses w/ terminals of
superior gluteal artery ;
-
transverse branch:
- enters
Vastus Lateralis , winds around femur below its greater trochanter,
& anastomoses on back of thigh w/
MFCA,
inferior gluteal, &
first
perforating arteries (
Cruciate Anastomosis );
-
descending branch:
- may arise separately from
femoral or
profunda artery;
- passes downward beneath the
Rectus Femoris;
- sends branches to
Vastus Lateralis
&
intermedius accompanied by
branches of
Femoral Nerve, & anastomoses w/
descending genicular branch
of
femoral artery and lateral superior genicular branch of
popliteal artery; (see
genicular arterial system)
- it continues down fascia lata & sends multiple
perforators to skin overlying
fascia lata and lateral aspect of the knee;
- lateral circumflex of
femoral artery is principal source of blood to the
trochanteric area & inferior part of femoral neck;
- it anastomoses to limited degree w/ branches of
medial circumflex;
-
nutrient artery
of femur sends branches to metaphysis or neck but does
not contribute significantly to head;
