The deep artery of the thigh (also known as profunda femoris artery, or deep femoral artery) is a large branch of the femoral artery. It travels more deeply ("profundly") than the rest of the femoral artery. It gives rise to the lateral circumflex femoral artery and medial circumflex femoral artery, and the perforating arteries, terminating within the thigh.
| Deep artery of the thigh | |
|---|---|
 The Deep femoral artery (labeled at right center) and other major arteries seen on right thigh, anterior view. | |
 Structures surrounding right hip-joint. | |
| Details | |
| Source | femoral artery |
| Branches | Lateral femoral circumflex Medial femoral circumflex Perforating |
| Vein | profunda femoris vein |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteria profunda femoris |
| TA98 | A12.2.16.020 |
| TA2 | 4685 |
| FMA | 20741 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
StructureEdit
OriginEdit
The deep artery of the thigh branches off the posterolateral side of the femoral artery soon after its origin.[1]
CourseEdit
It travels down the thigh closer to the femur than the femoral artery. It runs between the pectineus muscle and the adductor longus muscle. It runs on the posterior side of adductor longus muscle.[1] It pierces the adductor magnus muscle, and may be known as the fourth perforating artery as it continues.[1] The deep femoral artery does not leave the thigh;[citation needed] terminating as perforating tissue branches within the thigh.[2]
BranchesEdit
The deep artery of the thigh gives off the following branches:
- Lateral circumflex femoral artery.[1][2]
- Medial circumflex femoral artery.[1][2]
- 3 perforating arteries that perforate the adductor magnus muscle to the posterior and medial compartments of the thigh to connect with the branches of the popliteal artery behind the knee.[citation needed]
DistributionEdit
The deep artery of the thigh is the main supply of oxygenated blood to the thigh.[1]
The medial circumflex femoral artery is distributes to the adductor group (adductor longus, magnus, and brevis), gracilis, and pectineus. It also supplies the femoral head and neck.[2]
The lateral circumflex femoral artery supplies muscles of the knee extensor group (vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris).[2]
The perforating arteries supply the hamstring muscles (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris).[2]
Additional imagesEdit
Cross-section through the middle of the left thigh.
A schema of the arteries of the thigh.
Deep artery of the thigh
Deep artery of the thigh
Deep artery of the thigh
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 629 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ a b c d e f Ginzburg, Enrique; Chong, Chee Kiong; Rich, Norman M. (2008-01-01), Asensio, JUAN A.; Trunkey, DONALD D. (eds.), "Vascular Anatomy of the Extremities", Current Therapy of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Philadelphia: Mosby, pp. 467–472, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-04418-9.50066-7, ISBN 978-0-323-04418-9, retrieved 2021-02-18
- ^ a b c d e f Swift, Hilary; Bordoni, Bruno (2022), "Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Femoral Artery", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30855850, retrieved 2023-01-11
External linksEdit
- Profunda femoris deep femoral artery at the Duke University Health System's Orthopedics program
- Anatomy figure: 12:04-03 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Arteries of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks."
- Cross section image: pelvis/pelvis-e12-15—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna
- MedEd at Loyola grossanatomy/dissector/labs/le/ant_th_leg/main.html
- antthigh at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (femoralart)
