Deep femoral artery

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Deep femoral artery
Thigh cross section.svg
Cross-section through the middle of the right thigh.
Details
Source Femoral artery
Branches Lateral femoral circumflex
Medial femoral circumflex
Perforating
Vein Deep femoral vein
Identifiers
Latin arteria profunda femoris
TA98 A12.2.16.020
TA2 4685
FMA 20741
Anatomical terminology

The deep femoral artery also known as the deep artery of the thigh, or profunda femoris artery, is a large branch of the femoral artery. It travels more deeply ("profoundly") 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.

Contents

Structure

Origin

The deep femoral artery branches off the posterolateral side of the femoral artery soon after its origin. [1]

Course

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]

Branches

The deep femoral artery gives off the following branches:

Distribution

The deep femoral artery 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 images

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human leg</span> Lower extremity or limb of the human body (foot, lower leg, thigh and hip)

The leg is the entire lower limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh or sometimes even the hip or buttock region. The major bones of the leg are the femur, tibia, and adjacent fibula. The thigh is between the hip and knee, while the calf (rear) and shin (front) are between the knee and foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thigh</span> The part of the body between the pelvis and the knee; upper leg

In anatomy, the thigh is the area between the hip (pelvis) and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femoral artery</span> Large artery in the thigh

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 and passes through the adductor canal, and becomes the popliteal artery as it passes through the adductor hiatus in the adductor magnus near the junction of the middle and distal thirds of the thigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femoral triangle</span> Anatomical region of the thigh

The femoral triangle is an anatomical region of the upper third of the thigh. It is a subfascial space which appears as a triangular depression below the inguinal ligament when the thigh is flexed, abducted and laterally rotated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pectineus muscle</span> Adductor of the thigh

The pectineus muscle 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 of the hip. The muscle's primary action is hip flexion; it also produces adduction and internal rotation of the hip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip</span> Anatomical region between the torso and the legs, holding the buttocks and genital region

In vertebrate anatomy, the hip, or coxa in medical terminology, refers to either an anatomical region or a joint on the outer (lateral) side of the pelvis.

The biceps femoris is a muscle of the thigh located to the posterior, or back. As its name implies, it consists of two heads; the long head is considered part of the hamstring muscle group, while the short head is sometimes excluded from this characterization, as it only causes knee flexion and is activated by a separate nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adductor brevis muscle</span> Muscle in the thigh situated immediately behind the pectineus and adductor longus

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 and the rest of the adductor muscle group is also used to stabilize left to right movements of the trunk, when standing on both feet, or to balance when standing on a moving surface. The adductor muscle group is used pressing the thighs together to ride a horse, and kicking with the inside of the foot in soccer or swimming. Last, they contribute to flexion of the thigh when running or against resistance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adductor longus muscle</span> Skeletal muscle located in the thigh

In the human body, the adductor longus is a skeletal muscle located in the thigh. One of the adductor muscles of the hip, its main function is to adduct the thigh and it is innervated by the obturator nerve. It forms the medial wall of the femoral triangle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adductor magnus muscle</span> Muscle in the thigh

The adductor magnus is a large triangular muscle, situated on the medial side of the thigh.

The linea aspera is a ridge of roughened surface on the posterior surface of the shaft of the femur. It is the site of attachments of muscles and the intermuscular septum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femoral nerve</span> Long nerve down the thigh and inner leg

The femoral nerve is a nerve in the thigh that supplies skin on the upper thigh and inner leg, and the muscles that extend the knee. It is the largest branch of the lumbar plexus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumbar plexus</span> Web of nerves in the lower spine

The lumbar plexus is a web of nerves in the lumbar region of the body which forms part of the larger lumbosacral plexus. It is formed by the divisions of the first four lumbar nerves (L1-L4) and from contributions of the subcostal nerve (T12), which is the last thoracic nerve. Additionally, the ventral rami of the fourth lumbar nerve pass communicating branches, the lumbosacral trunk, to the sacral plexus. The nerves of the lumbar plexus pass in front of the hip joint and mainly support the anterior part of the thigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lateral circumflex femoral artery</span>

The lateral circumflex femoral artery is an artery in the upper thigh. It is usually a branch of the profunda femoris artery, and produces three branches. It is mostly distributed to the muscles of the lateral thigh, supplying arterial blood to muscles of the knee extensor group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medial circumflex femoral artery</span>

The medial circumflex femoral artery is an artery 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 and neck.

In human anatomy, the body of femur is the almost cylindrical, long part of the femur. It is a little broader above than in the center, broadest and somewhat flattened from before backward below. It is slightly arched, so as to be convex in front, and concave behind, where it is strengthened by a prominent longitudinal ridge, the linea aspera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perforating arteries</span>

The perforating arteries are branches of the deep artery of the thigh, usually three in number, so named because they perforate the tendon of the adductor magnus to reach the back of the thigh. They pass backward near the linea aspera of the femur underneath the small tendinous arches of the adductor magnus muscle.

The saphenous nerve is the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve. It is derived from the lumbar plexus (L3-L4). It is a strictly sensory nerve, and has no motor function. It commences in the proximal (upper) thigh and travels along the adductor canal. Upon exiting the adductor canal, the saphenous nerve terminates by splitting into two terminal branches: the sartorial nerve, and the infrapatellar nerve. The saphenous nerve is responsible for providing sensory innervation to the skin of the anteromedial leg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior compartment of thigh</span> One of the fascial compartments that contains the knee flexors and hip extensors

The posterior compartment of the thigh is one of the fascial compartments that contains the knee flexors and hip extensors known as the hamstring muscles, as well as vascular and nervous elements, particularly the sciatic nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of human anatomy</span> Overview of and topical guide to human anatomy

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 629 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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
  3. Moore, Keith L.; Dalley, Arthur F.; Agur, Anne M. R. (2018). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. p. 735. ISBN   978-1-4963-4721-3.