Study of the profunda femoris artery and its anatomical variations in human

ABSTRACT

To study the profunda femoris artery in human and to illustrate any variation in the artery as regard its origin, and branching pattern. Twenty four cadaveric lower limbs of both sexes were used in this study. At first, the femoral artery was suspected to cannulation and injection with gelatin/lead oxide mixture. The profunda femoris artery was sequentially dissected and studied for any variation in the origin and branches. An angiograph was used to show the role of profunda femoris artery in case of obstruction of femoral artery. The profunda femoris artery originated from the femoral artery at a distance ranged form 2.5-7 cm below the inguinal ligament. It had an external diameter of 0.4-0.7 cm. Many variations in both origin and branching pattern were detected. It originated from the lateral [one specimen], posterolateral [22 specimens] and postero-medial aspect of femoral artery [one specimen]. In most of the specimens, the M.F.C. [18 specimens- 75%] and L.F.C. [20 specimens- 83.3%] were found to arise directly from the profunda femoris artery. While in 6 specimens [25%] the M.F.C. arised directly from the femoral artery. In 4 specimens [16.7%] the L.F.C. arised from the femoral artery. In one specimen, it was found that the descending branch of L.F.C. arised directly from the femoral artery. Angiograph of obstructed femoral artery demonstrated the presence of 2 longitudinal series of anastomosis; one of them was the descending branch of L.F.C. with the superolateral genicular branch of popliteal artery and the other was between the 4 perforators, and proximal and muscular branches of popliteal artery. There are variations in the branching pattern of the profunda femoris artery which is the main arterial supply of the thigh. Another function is to conduit also blood to leg via anastomosing branches with the popliteal artery. These findings are of great importance to vascular surgeon as in occlusive arterial disorder of the femoral artery this artery represents the only hope of saving a critical ischaemic limb to avoid amputation and also important to plastic surgeon during designing myocutaneous flaps of the thigh