Corpus: Lateral circumflex femoral artery

The lateral circumflex femoral artery is a branch of the deep femoral artery that supplies the cranial portion of the lateral thigh.

The lateral circumflex femoral artery originates from the lateral aspect of the deep femoral artery. It runs horizontally between the branches of the femoral nerve to the side of the thigh - covered by the sartorius muscle and the rectus femoris muscle. It is divided into 3 branches:

2.1. Ramus ascendens

The ascending branch runs below the tensor fasciae latae muscle cranially to the lateral section of the hip and anastomoses here with the terminal branches of the superior gluteal artery and the deep circumflex iliac artery.

2.2. Ramus descendens

The descending branch runs caudally on the vastus lateralis muscle and reaches the knee with its long end section. In its course it is accompanied by a nerve branch of the femoral nerve and gives off some smaller branches (rami musculares) to the vastus lateralis. It is covered by the rectus femoris muscle. The terminal branches radiate into the rete articulare genus and form anastomoses with the superior lateral genicular artery.

2.3. Ramus transversus

The small, transverse branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery runs laterally via the vastus intermedius muscle. It perforates the lateral vastus, winds around the femur below the greater trochanter and anastomoses with the medial circumflex femoral artery and the inferior gluteal artery at the back of the femur.

The lateral circumflex femoral artery is accompanied by the lateral circumflex femoral vein of the same name.