Lateral circumflex femoral artery

Lateral circumflex femoral artery

The course and branches of the femoral artery. (Lateral circumflex femoral artery is labeled at right center.)

The Lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) is a branch of the femoral artery that supplies blood to the lateral and posterior parts of the thigh. It is a significant artery in the lower limb due to its contributions to the cruciate anastomosis and the blood supply to the femur and hip joint.

Anatomy

The LCFA usually arises from the lateral side of the profunda femoris artery, but in some cases, it may directly stem from the femoral artery. It divides into three branches: ascending, transverse, and descending.

• Ascending branch: This branch ascends towards the hip joint, supplying the gluteal muscles and the head of the femur.
• Transverse branch: This branch runs laterally across the thigh, supplying the vastus lateralis muscle and part of the vastus intermedius muscle.
• Descending branch: This branch descends along the lateral side of the thigh, supplying the vastus lateralis muscle and the knee joint.

Clinical significance

The LCFA is of particular importance in vascular surgery and plastic surgery, as it is frequently used in flap surgeries for tissue reconstruction. Its branches are also used as bypass grafts in femoral artery occlusion.

See also

• Femoral artery
• Profunda femoris artery
• Vastus lateralis muscle
• Vastus intermedius muscle
• Cruciate anastomosis