The medial circumflex femoral artery (internal circumflex artery, medial femoral circumflex artery) is an

artery An artery () is a blood vessel in humans and most other animals that takes oxygenated blood away from the heart in the systemic circulation to one or more parts of the body. Exceptions that carry deoxygenated blood are the pulmonary arteries in ...

in the upper thigh that arises from the profunda femoris artery''.'' It supplies arterial blood to several muscles in the region, as well as the

femoral head The femoral head (femur head or head of the femur) is the highest part of the thigh bone (femur The femur (; : femurs or femora ), or thigh bone is the only long bone, bone in the thigh — the region of the lower limb between the hip and the ...

and

neck The neck is the part of the body in many vertebrates that connects the head to the torso. It supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that transmit sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body. Addition ...

. Damage to the artery following a femoral neck fracture may lead to

avascular necrosis Avascular necrosis (AVN), also called osteonecrosis or bone infarction, is death of bone tissue due to interruption of the blood supply. Early on, there may be no symptoms. Gradually joint pain may develop, which may limit the person's abilit ...

(

ischemic Ischemia or ischaemia is a restriction in blood supply to any tissue, muscle group, or organ of the body, causing a shortage of oxygen that is needed for cellular metabolism (to keep tissue alive). Ischemia is generally caused by problems ...

) of the femoral neck/head.

Structure

Origin

The medial femoral circumflex artery arises from the posteromedial aspect of the profunda femoris artery''.'' The medial femoral circumflex artery may occasionally arise directly from the

femoral artery The femoral artery is a large artery in the thigh and the main arterial supply to the thigh and leg. The femoral artery gives off the deep femoral artery and descends along the anteromedial part of the thigh in the femoral triangle. It enters ...

Course and relations

It winds around the medial side of the

femur The femur (; : femurs or femora ), or thigh bone is the only long bone, bone in the thigh — the region of the lower limb between the hip and the knee. In many quadrupeds, four-legged animals the femur is the upper bone of the hindleg. The Femo ...

to pass along the posterior aspect of the femur. It first passes between the

pectineus The pectineus muscle (, from the Latin word ''pecten'', meaning comb) is a flat, quadrangular muscle, situated at the anterior (front) part of the upper and medial (inner) aspect of the thigh. The pectineus muscle is the most anterior adductor o ...

and the

iliopsoas The iliopsoas muscle (; ) refers to the joined psoas major and the iliacus muscles. The two muscles are separate in the abdomen, but usually merge in the thigh. They are usually given the common name ''iliopsoas''. The iliopsoas muscle joins t ...

muscles, then between the

obturator externus The external obturator muscle or obturator externus muscle (; OE) is a flat, triangular muscle, which covers the outer surface of the anterior wall of the pelvis. It is sometimes considered part of the medial compartment of thigh, and sometime ...

and the

adductor brevis The adductor brevis is a muscle in the thigh situated immediately deep to the pectineus and adductor longus. It belongs to the adductor muscle group. The main function of the adductor brevis is to pull the thigh medially. The adductor brevi ...

muscles.

Branches

At the upper border of the

it gives off two branches: * The '' ascending branch'' * The ''descending branch'' descends beneath the

, to supply it and the

adductor magnus The adductor magnus is a large triangular muscle, situated on the medial side of the thigh. It consists of two parts. The portion which arises from the ischiopubic ramus (a small part of the inferior ramus of the pubis, and the inferior ramu ...

; the continuation of the vessel passes backward and divides into superficial, deep, and acetabular branches. ** The '' superficial branch'' ** The '' deep branch'' ** The '' acetabular branch''

Distribution

The medial femoral circumflex artery (with its branches) supplies arterial blood to several muscles, including: the

adductor muscles of the hip The adductor muscles of the hip are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh mostly used for bringing the thighs together (called adduction). Structure The adductor group is made up of: * Adductor brevis * Adductor longus * A ...

gracilis muscle The gracilis muscle (; Latin for "slender") is the most superficial muscle on the medial side of the thigh. It is thin and flattened, broad above, narrow and tapering below. Structure It arises by a thin aponeurosis from the anterior margins ...

pectineus muscle The pectineus muscle (, from the Latin word ''pecten'', meaning comb) is a flat, quadrangular muscle, situated at the anterior (front) part of the upper and medial (inner) aspect of the thigh. The pectineus muscle is the most anterior adductor o ...

, and

external obturator muscle The external obturator muscle or obturator externus muscle (; OE) is a flat, triangular muscle, which covers the outer surface of the anterior wall of the pelvis. It is sometimes considered part of the medial compartment of thigh, and sometime ...

. It delivers most of the arterial supply to the

and

femoral neck The femoral neck (also femur neck or neck of the femur) is a flattened pyramidal process of bone, connecting the femoral head with the femoral shaft, and forming with the latter a wide angle opening medialward. Structure The neck is flattene ...

via branches - the posterior retinacular arteries.

Clinical significance

Branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery supplying the head and neck of the femur are often torn in femoral neck fractures and in hip dislocation.

References

Additional images

File:Slide9LLLL.JPG, Medial circumflex femoral artery

External links

* * - "Arteries of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks." {{Authority control Arteries of the lower limb