Medial Circumflex Femoral Artery, Posterior View

Description

Arising from the profunda femoris artery in the proximal thigh, the medial circumflex femoral artery courses posteromedially toward the intertrochanteric region, then winds posterior to the femoral neck to reach the trochanteric fossa. In a posterior perspective, its deep branch is seen passing between obturator externus and adductor magnus and then deep to quadratus femoris, closely applied to the posterior capsule of the hip joint. The vessel’s terminal retinacular (ascending cervical) branches track superiorly along the femoral neck toward the femoral head, adjacent to the acetabular rim and the posterior aspect of the greater trochanter. Small perforating and anastomotic channels link it with the inferior gluteal artery and the lateral circumflex femoral system. Short and tortuous. This artery matters because it is the dominant blood supply to the femoral head in adults via the posterior superior retinacular vessels, and its injury is a classic setup for avascular necrosis after displaced femoral neck fractures. Posterior hip approaches, including posterior total hip arthroplasty and open reduction of posterior fracture-dislocations, bring dissection and retraction into the same tissue planes as obturator externus and quadratus femoris where the medial circumflex femoral artery runs. Femoroacetabular impingement surgery and capsulotomy planning also depend on respecting the vascular ring around the femoral neck. Ideal for teaching hip vascular anatomy in gross anatomy, orthopaedic surgery, and sports medicine courses, and for illustrating textbook or journal discussions of femoral head osteonecrosis, intracapsular hip fractures, and surgical approach anatomy. It also supports patient-facing diagrams that explain why certain hip injuries threaten the femoral head’s perfusion. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.