Deep femoral artery

The deep femoral artery (also known as deep artery of thigh, Latin: arteria profunda femoris) is the largest deep branch of the femoral artery. It supplies arterial blood to the deep structures of the thigh, including the femur.

The deep femoral artery arises below the inguinal ligament, passes posteriorly and descends between the pectineus and adductor longus muscles. Further, the artery penetrates the adductor magnus muscle and continues as the third perforating artery. On its course, the deep femoral artery gives off several branches:

• Lateral circumflex femoral artery
• Medial circumflex femoral artery
• Descending genicular artery
• Perforating arteries