Vessel
Deep femoral (profunda femoris) artery
Chief supply of the thigh
High-yield
Its perforating branches supply the posterior thigh; the medial femoral circumflex artery is the main supply to the femoral head.
Overview
The largest branch of the femoral artery, the main blood supply to the thigh muscles via its perforating and circumflex branches.
Reference facts
- Type
Muscular artery
- Origin
Femoral artery
- Branches / tributaries
Medial femoral circumflex artery; Lateral femoral circumflex artery; Perforating arteries
- Supplies
The thigh muscles (all three compartments) and the femoral head
- Course
Arises from the posterolateral femoral artery in the femoral triangle and descends deep in the thigh
Clinical correlation
The medial femoral circumflex artery is the dominant supply to the femoral head — at risk in femoral neck fractures.