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

artery An artery (plural arteries) () is a blood vessel in humans and most animals that takes blood away from the heart to one or more parts of the body (tissues, lungs, brain etc.). Most arteries carry oxygenated blood; the two exceptions are the pul ...

in the upper thigh that arises from the

profunda femoris The deep artery of the thigh, (profunda femoris artery or deep femoral artery) is a large branch of the femoral artery. It travels more deeply (posteriorly) than the rest of the femoral artery. Structure The deep artery of the thigh branches of ...

artery''.'' 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 ability to move. Co ...

(

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 wi ...

) of the femoral neck/head.

Structure

Origin

The medial femoral circumflex artery arises from the posterior medial aspect of the

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 or profunda femoris artery and descends along the anteromedial part of the thigh in the fem ...

Course and relations

It winds around the medial side of the

femur The femur (; ), or thigh bone, is the proximal bone of the hindlimb in tetrapod vertebrates. The head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum in the pelvic bone forming the hip joint, while the distal part of the femur articulates with ...

, passing first 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

iliopsoas The iliopsoas muscle (; from lat, ile, lit=groin and grc, ψόᾱ, psóā, muscles of the loins) 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 usua ...

muscles, and then between the

obturator externus The external obturator muscle, 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 sometimes ...

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 brevis ...

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 Adductor may refer to: * One of the anatomical terms of motion * Adductor muscle (disambiguation) * Adductor canal The adductor canal, also known as the subsartorial canal or Hunter’s canal, is an aponeurotic tunnel in the middle third of the th ...

; 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 mostly used for bringing the thighs together (called adduction). Structure The adductor group is made up of: *Adductor brevis *Adductor longus *Adductor magnus * Adductor minimus This is o ...

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 o ...

, and

external obturator muscle The external obturator muscle, 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 sometimes ...

. It delivers most of the arterial supply to the

femoral head The femoral head (femur head or head of the femur) is the highest part of the thigh bone (femur). It is supported by the femoral neck. Structure The head is globular and forms rather more than a hemisphere, is directed upward, medialward, and a l ...

and

femoral neck The femoral neck (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 flattened from ...

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 A hip dislocation is when the thighbone (femur) separates from the hip bone (pelvis). Specifically it is when the ball–shaped head of the femur (femoral head) separates from its cup–shaped socket in the hip bone, known as the acetabulum. Th ...

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