[The anatomical study on the branches of the femoral artery (II). Comparison with the findings of Adachi's classification]

Abstract

The authors studied the mode of three main branches of the femoral artery (deep femoral, medial circumflex femoral and lateral circumflex femoral artery) in 179 Japanese cadavers during dissecting practice at Gifu University in the last four years. The findings were as follows; Two hundred and seventeen sides in the 352 sides (61.7%) belong to Type I of Adachi's classification on variations in the arrangement of the branches of the femoral artery. Forty-one sides (11.6%) belong to Type II, 55 sides (15.6%) to Type III, 7 sides (2.0%) to Type IV, 8 sides (2.3%) to Type V, 4 sides (1.1%) to Type VI, 5 sides (1.4%) to Type VII and 15 dises (4.3%) to other types. Five cases in 15 sides which belong to other types have been reported in our previous study (Emura et al. 1985). In 3 cases out of 10 sides the deep femoral-medial circumflex femoral trunk, and the ascending and descending branches of the lateral circumflex femoral artery arise from the femoral artery, respectively. In one case out of 10 sides the deep femoral-lateral circumflex femoral trunk and the medial circumflex femoral-inferior epigastric-obturator trunk arise from the femoral artery, respectively. In one case out of 10 sides the lateral circumflex femoral artery and the deep femoral-medial circumflex femoral-inferior epigastric-obturator trunk arise from the femoral artery, respectively. In one case out of 10 sides the medial circumflex femoral-deep circumflex iliac trunk arises from the lateral side of the femoral artery and runs medially behind the femoral artery, and the deep femoral-lateral circumflex femoral trunk arises from the femoral artery. In one case out of 10 sides the deep femoral-ascending (the lateral circumflex femoral artery) trunk, the medial circumflex femoral artery and the deep circumflex iliac-descending (the lateral circumflex femoral artery) trunk arise from the femoral artery, respectively. In one case out of 10 sides the deep femoral-descending (the lateral circumflex femoral artery) trunk, the medial circumflex femoral artery and the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery) trunk, the medial circumflex femoral artery and the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery arise from the femoral artery, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)