The medial circumflex femoral artery origin variability and its radiological and surgical intervention significance

Abstract

The medial circumflex femoral artery usually arises from the deep femoral artery. It supplies the supplies adductors and hamstring group as well as sciatic nerve and femoral head and neck through anastomosis. In current study includes 342 dissected hemipelvis to clarify the origin of medial circumflex femoral artery. The medial circumflex femoral artery arose from the common and deep femoral artery in 39.3% and 57%. Infrequently, it arose from the superficial femoral artery in 2.5% whereas it arose from the lateral circumflex femoral artery in 0.6%. In contrast, it found to be congenital absent in 0.6%. In current study, the usual origin level of medial circumflex femoral artery found to be proximal to lateral circumflex femoral artery in 52% and distal to the deep femoral artery in 57.3%. Knowing the medial circumflex femoral artery limits avascular necrosis of the femoral head such as embolization procedure. Therefore, knowing the origin variability of the medial circumflex femoral artery may lead to avoid iatrogenic fault in several procedures such as arterial bypass procedure to protect vascular supply of lower limb. Radiologists as well as orthopedics and vascular surgeons have to be aware of the medial circumflex femoral artery variation.

Keywords: Common femoral artery; Deep femoral artery; Lateral circumflex femoral artery; Medial circumflex femoral artery; Superficial femoral artery.

Figure 1

The medial circumflex femoral artery arising from the common femoral artery. CFA. Common femoral artery, SFA. Superficial femoral artery, DFA. Deep femoral artery, MCFA. Medial circumflex femoral artery, LCFA. Lateral circumflex femoral artery.

Figure 2

The medial circumflex femoral artery arising from the common trunk of femoral artery with the deep femoral artery. CFA. Common femoral artery, SFA. Superficial femoral artery, DFA. Deep femoral artery, MCFA. Medial circumflex femoral artery.

Figure 3

The medial circumflex femoral artery arising from the common trunk of femoral artery with the superficial and deep femoral arteries as well as the lateral circumflex femoral artery. CFA. Common femoral artery, SFA. Superficial femoral artery, DFA. Deep femoral artery, MCFA. Medial circumflex femoral artery, LCFA. Lateral circumflex femoral artery.

Figure 4

The medial circumflex femoral artery arising from the superficial femoral artery. CFA. Common femoral artery, SFA. Superficial femoral artery, DFA. Deep femoral artery, MCFA. Medial circumflex femoral artery, LCFA. Lateral circumflex femoral artery.

Figure 5

The medial circumflex femoral artery arising from the deep femoral artery. CFA. Common femoral artery, SFA. Superficial femoral artery, DFA. Deep femoral artery, MCFA. Medial circumflex femoral artery, 1^st perforating. First perforating artery.

Figure 6

The medial circumflex femoral artery arising from the lateral circumflex femoral artery. CFA. Common femoral artery, SFA. Superficial femoral artery, DFA. Deep femoral artery, MCFA. Medial circumflex femoral artery, LCFA. Lateral circumflex femoral artery, ASB. Ascending branch, TB. Transverse branch, DB. Descending branch.