Anatomy of the origin of the deep femoral artery.

OBJECTIVE: To study the variability in the level of origin of the deep femoral artery in relation to the different patterns of origin of the femoral circumflex arteries. DESIGN: 124 femoral triangles obtained from cadavers were dissected. The origins of the circumflex femoral arteries were classified into two groups. In group A medial and lateral circumflex arteries arose from the deep femoral artery. In group B either one or both femoral circumflex arteries arose from the common femoral artery. The distance of origin of the deep femoral artery from the mid point of the inguinal ligament was measured in both groups and compared. SETTING: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was noted in the two groups regarding the level of origin of the deep femoral artery. CONCLUSION: There is a distal migration of the level of origin of the deep femoral artery when either one or both circumflex femoral arteries arose from the common femoral artery.