Anatomical variation of lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries identified during cadaveric dissection

Misha Ul-Islam; Nathan Sagasser; Danait W. Gebreselassie; Abigail Blank; Abeeha Choudhary; Jada Daniel; Christian Butler; Sofia Garcia; Emranul Huq

Anatomical variation of lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries identified during cadaveric dissection

Misha Ul-Islam
, Nathan Sagasser
, Danait W. Gebreselassie
, Abigail Blank
, Abeeha Choudhary
, Jada Daniel
, Christian Butler
, Sofia Garcia
, Emranul Huq

Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster

Abstract

Introduction: The common femoral artery (CFA) is the principal arterial supply to the lower limb and a critical landmark in surgical, orthopedic, and interventional procedures. Typically, the CFA gives rise to the deep femoral artery (DFA) and continues distally as the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) and medial circumflex femoral artery (MCFA) most commonly originate from the DFA. However, documented anatomical variations in the femoral arterial branching patterns underscore the importance of recognizing deviations that may influence clinical decision‑making.

Objective: This study describes two rare anatomical variations identified during routine cadaveric dissection in which three distinct branches, viz., the SFA, DFA, and LCFA, arose from a common origin at the CFA in the right lower limb, and the MCFA arose from the CFA in both lower limbs.

Methods: Detailed dissections of the right and left femoral triangles were performed on an adult cadaver as part of a first‑year medical school anatomy laboratory. Standard anatomical protocols were used to expose the femoral artery and its branches. The origin, course, and spatial relationships of each arterial branch were documented and compared with established anatomical descriptions.

Results: Dissection revealed an atypical branching pattern in which the right LCFA arose directly from the right CFA rather than from the right DFA. This configuration formed a trifurcation of the CFA into the SFA, DFA, and LCFA. In addition, the MCFA originated directly from the CFA in both lower limbs rather than from the DFA.

Discussion: Awareness of such variations is crucial for clinicians performing vascular access, flap harvesting, or operative exposure of the femoral triangle. Recognition of atypical arterial patterns can reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury, improve surgical planning, and enhance interpretation of angiographic imaging.

Original language	American English
State	Published - Apr 17 2026
Event	PCOM SGA Research Day 2026 - Moultrie, United States Duration: Apr 17 2026 → Apr 17 2026

Conference

Conference	PCOM SGA Research Day 2026
Country/Territory	United States
City	Moultrie
Period	4/17/26 → 4/17/26

Access to Document

Anatomical variation of lateral and medial circumflex femoral art

http://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/research_day/research_day_SGA_2026/researchSGA2026/24

Cite this

Ul-Islam, M., Sagasser, N., Gebreselassie, D. W., Blank, A., Choudhary, A., Daniel, J., Butler, C., Garcia, S., & Huq, E. (2026). Anatomical variation of lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries identified during cadaveric dissection. Poster session presented at PCOM SGA Research Day 2026, Moultrie, Georgia, United States. http://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/research_day/research_day_SGA_2026/researchSGA2026/24

Ul-Islam, M, Sagasser, N, Gebreselassie, DW, Blank, A, Choudhary, A, Daniel, J, Butler, C, Garcia, S & Huq, E 2026, 'Anatomical variation of lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries identified during cadaveric dissection', PCOM SGA Research Day 2026, Moultrie, United States, 4/17/26 - 4/17/26. <http://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/research_day/research_day_SGA_2026/researchSGA2026/24>

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title = "Anatomical variation of lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries identified during cadaveric dissection",

abstract = "Introduction: The common femoral artery (CFA) is the principal arterial supply to the lower limb and a critical landmark in surgical, orthopedic, and interventional procedures. Typically, the CFA gives rise to the deep femoral artery (DFA) and continues distally as the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) and medial circumflex femoral artery (MCFA) most commonly originate from the DFA. However, documented anatomical variations in the femoral arterial branching patterns underscore the importance of recognizing deviations that may influence clinical decision‑making. Objective: This study describes two rare anatomical variations identified during routine cadaveric dissection in which three distinct branches, viz., the SFA, DFA, and LCFA, arose from a common origin at the CFA in the right lower limb, and the MCFA arose from the CFA in both lower limbs. Methods: Detailed dissections of the right and left femoral triangles were performed on an adult cadaver as part of a first‑year medical school anatomy laboratory. Standard anatomical protocols were used to expose the femoral artery and its branches. The origin, course, and spatial relationships of each arterial branch were documented and compared with established anatomical descriptions. Results: Dissection revealed an atypical branching pattern in which the right LCFA arose directly from the right CFA rather than from the right DFA. This configuration formed a trifurcation of the CFA into the SFA, DFA, and LCFA. In addition, the MCFA originated directly from the CFA in both lower limbs rather than from the DFA. Discussion: Awareness of such variations is crucial for clinicians performing vascular access, flap harvesting, or operative exposure of the femoral triangle. Recognition of atypical arterial patterns can reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury, improve surgical planning, and enhance interpretation of angiographic imaging.",

author = "Misha Ul-Islam and Nathan Sagasser and Gebreselassie, \{Danait W.\} and Abigail Blank and Abeeha Choudhary and Jada Daniel and Christian Butler and Sofia Garcia and Emranul Huq",

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T1 - Anatomical variation of lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries identified during cadaveric dissection

AU - Ul-Islam, Misha

AU - Sagasser, Nathan

AU - Gebreselassie, Danait W.

AU - Blank, Abigail

AU - Choudhary, Abeeha

AU - Daniel, Jada

AU - Butler, Christian

AU - Garcia, Sofia

AU - Huq, Emranul

PY - 2026/4/17

Y1 - 2026/4/17

N2 - Introduction: The common femoral artery (CFA) is the principal arterial supply to the lower limb and a critical landmark in surgical, orthopedic, and interventional procedures. Typically, the CFA gives rise to the deep femoral artery (DFA) and continues distally as the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) and medial circumflex femoral artery (MCFA) most commonly originate from the DFA. However, documented anatomical variations in the femoral arterial branching patterns underscore the importance of recognizing deviations that may influence clinical decision‑making. Objective: This study describes two rare anatomical variations identified during routine cadaveric dissection in which three distinct branches, viz., the SFA, DFA, and LCFA, arose from a common origin at the CFA in the right lower limb, and the MCFA arose from the CFA in both lower limbs. Methods: Detailed dissections of the right and left femoral triangles were performed on an adult cadaver as part of a first‑year medical school anatomy laboratory. Standard anatomical protocols were used to expose the femoral artery and its branches. The origin, course, and spatial relationships of each arterial branch were documented and compared with established anatomical descriptions. Results: Dissection revealed an atypical branching pattern in which the right LCFA arose directly from the right CFA rather than from the right DFA. This configuration formed a trifurcation of the CFA into the SFA, DFA, and LCFA. In addition, the MCFA originated directly from the CFA in both lower limbs rather than from the DFA. Discussion: Awareness of such variations is crucial for clinicians performing vascular access, flap harvesting, or operative exposure of the femoral triangle. Recognition of atypical arterial patterns can reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury, improve surgical planning, and enhance interpretation of angiographic imaging.

AB - Introduction: The common femoral artery (CFA) is the principal arterial supply to the lower limb and a critical landmark in surgical, orthopedic, and interventional procedures. Typically, the CFA gives rise to the deep femoral artery (DFA) and continues distally as the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) and medial circumflex femoral artery (MCFA) most commonly originate from the DFA. However, documented anatomical variations in the femoral arterial branching patterns underscore the importance of recognizing deviations that may influence clinical decision‑making. Objective: This study describes two rare anatomical variations identified during routine cadaveric dissection in which three distinct branches, viz., the SFA, DFA, and LCFA, arose from a common origin at the CFA in the right lower limb, and the MCFA arose from the CFA in both lower limbs. Methods: Detailed dissections of the right and left femoral triangles were performed on an adult cadaver as part of a first‑year medical school anatomy laboratory. Standard anatomical protocols were used to expose the femoral artery and its branches. The origin, course, and spatial relationships of each arterial branch were documented and compared with established anatomical descriptions. Results: Dissection revealed an atypical branching pattern in which the right LCFA arose directly from the right CFA rather than from the right DFA. This configuration formed a trifurcation of the CFA into the SFA, DFA, and LCFA. In addition, the MCFA originated directly from the CFA in both lower limbs rather than from the DFA. Discussion: Awareness of such variations is crucial for clinicians performing vascular access, flap harvesting, or operative exposure of the femoral triangle. Recognition of atypical arterial patterns can reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury, improve surgical planning, and enhance interpretation of angiographic imaging.

M3 - Poster

T2 - PCOM SGA Research Day 2026

Y2 - 17 April 2026 through 17 April 2026

ER -