Perforating arteries

The perforating arteries (Latin: arteriae perforantes) are usually three in number and arise from the deep femoral artery. The perforating arteries are so called because they perforate the adductor muscles to reach the back of the thigh. All perforating arteries together provide arterial blood supply to the posterior muscle group of the thigh and partly to the medial muscle group of the thigh.

The 1st perforating artery (arteria perforans prima) runs between the pectineus and upper margin of the adductor longus. The 2nd perforating artery (arteria perforans secunda) runs along the upper margin of the adductor brevis. And the 3rd perforating artery (arteria perforans tertia) is the terminal branch of the deep femoral artery. It passes below the adductor brevis and pierces the adductor magnus.