Clinical significance of understanding lateral and medial circumflex femoral artery origin variability

The common femoral artery (CFA) divides into the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and deep femoral artery (DFA). The lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) and medial circumflex femoral artery (MCFA) are most often branches of the DFA, although a large number of different variations in their origin has been described. We performed microdissection on both lower limbs of 30 fetuses, gestational age from 7 to 10 lunar months. Our results show that the LCFA and MCFA usually arise from the DFA. In 78.3% of cases, the MCFA originated from the DFA. In 11.7% of cases, the MCFA originated from the CFA, and in 5% of cases from the SFA. One case showed a common trunk with the DFA. Also, the MCFA was missing in one case, and it had a common trunk with the LCFA in one case. In 83.3% of cases, the LCFA arose from the DFA and in 6.7% of cases from the CFA. In one case, it had a common trunk with the DFA, and in one case with the MCFA. In 3.3% of cases, the LCFA was missing. In 66.7% of cases, both arteries originated from the DFA, in 15% of cases one originated from the DFA and the other from the CFA or SFA. Our results are in accordance with some published studies but also differ from the outcomes of other studies. Comprehensive knowledge of different variation types is imperative in order to prevent complications during surgical and orthopedic interventions.