MEDIAL SIDE OF THE THIGH 



207 



Obturator externus 



longus, which separates it from the femoral artery. (4) The 

 terminal twig, called the fourth perforating artery, pierces 

 the adductor magnus at the junction of the middle and 

 distal thirds of the thigh. 



The branches which spring from the profunda femoris 

 are : the two circumflex arteries, the four perforating 

 arteries, and some 

 muscular branches. 



The lateral cir- 

 cumflex artery arises 

 from the lateral as- 

 pect of the profunda, 

 close to its origin. 

 It has already been 

 followed to its dis- 

 tribution (p. 198). 

 The medial circumflex 



artery, which takes 3rd rami per- 

 . . forantes 



origin at the same 

 level, but from the 

 medial and posterior 

 aspect of the pro- 

 funda, will be studied 

 when the pectineus 

 muscle is reflected. 

 The muscular branches 

 are irregular both in 

 origin and size. They 

 supply the adductor 

 muscles, and give 

 twigs which pierce 

 the adductor magnus 

 to reach the ham- 

 string muscles. 



The medial cir- 

 cumflex artery frequently arises from the femoral trunk. 



Arterise Perforantes (Perforating Arteries). These arise 

 in series from the main trunk, and pass posteriorly through 

 the adductor muscles to the posterior region of the thigh. 

 They may be recognised from the close relation which they 

 bear to the linea aspera of the femur. The arteria perforans 

 prima comes off at the level of the distal border of the 



A. femoralis 



Opening in 

 adductor magnus 



Art. genu 

 suprema (O.T. 

 anastomotic) 



Femoral artery 

 FIG. 77. A. Profunda Femoris and its Rami. 



