A rare variational anatomy of the profunda femoris artery

The course and ramification of the vessels of the lower limbs have long received attention from anatomists and surgeons. During educational dissection with undergraduate students of the Department of Anatomy of the NRI Medical College we observed in a male cadaver of about 55 years the rare variation of the profunda femoris artery originating from the medial side of the femoral artery and coursing in front of the femoral vein on the left side of thigh. The medial circumflex artery, arising by a common trunk with the profunda femoris, also coursed superficially to the femoral vein to continue further. The lateral circumflex femoral artery arose directly from the femoral artery and coursed parallel to the femoral artery on the lateral side and divided into branches. The anatomy of the profunda femoris artery on the right side was normal. It has been reported that arteriovenous fistulas can occur in the groin region as a complication of percutaneous angioplasty or cardiac catheterisation of the femoral vessels. A complete understanding of the anatomy of the femoral triangle is thus necessary in order to avoid this and other complications.