Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Anatomical Science International https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-018-0434-1 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Clinical signifcance of understanding lateral and medial circumfex femoral artery origin variability Aleksandra Vuksanović‑Božarić 1  · Marija Abramović 1  · Ljiljana Vučković 2  · Mileta Golubović 2  · Batrić Vukčević 1  · Miroslav Radunović 1 Received: 9 January 2018 / Accepted: 21 February 2018 © Japanese Association of Anatomists 2018 Abstract The common femoral artery (CFA) divides into the superfcial femoral artery (SFA) and deep femoral artery (DFA). The lateral circumfex femoral artery (LCFA) and medial circumfex femoral artery (MCFA) are most often branches of the DFA, although a large number of diferent 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 difer from the outcomes of other studies. Comprehensive knowledge of diferent variation types is imperative in order to prevent complications during surgical and orthopedic interventions. Keywords Anatomical variation · Medial circumfex femoral artery · Lateral circumfex femoral artery · Deep femoral artery · Fetus · Microdissection Introduction The deep femoral artery (DFA) is the largest branch of the femoral artery (FA) and is the main artery that vascular- izes the adductors and fexors, as well as the extensors of the thigh (Lanz and Wachsmuth 2003; Lippert and Pabst 1985). It most often arises in the femoral triangle (FT), 2–6 cm below the inguinal ligament (IL). According to some authors, it may be positioned high in the FT, just below the IL, or lower in the FT (Vuksanovic-Bozaric et al. 2015). Deviations in height and manner of DFA origin cause var- iability of its caliber, as well as certain diferences in terms of distribution of its side branches—the lateral circumfex femoral artery (LCFA) and medial circumfex femoral artery (MCFA). Also, DFA caliber decreases proportionally with change in height of its origin in the FT, with lower origin causing smaller caliber. Variations in DFA caliber cause variations in the caliber of its side branches; smaller caliber causes lesser perfusion and dictates the development of col- lateral circulation. In cases in which the DFA has a higher origin, it usually provides both circumfex FAs (Tomasze- wski et al. 2017). In anatomical studies, the FA is the con- tinuation of the external iliac artery, all along to its end at the adductor hiatus, whereas the DFA is its largest branch. Another group of authors refers to the proximal part of the FA as the common femoral artery (CFA), which then bifur- cates into the DFA and the superfcial femoral artery (SFA). The SFA represents a continuation of the FA all along to the popliteal artery (Vuksanovic-Bozaric et al. 2015). According to the literature, the LCFA and MCFA most often originate from the DFA and not so often from the FA. There are also cases in which one artery arises from the * Aleksandra Vuksanović-Božarić alexandrav2006@yahoo.com 1 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Ljubljanska 1, 20000 Podgorica, Montenegro 2 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro