The profunda femoris artery, also known as the deep femoral, is the largest branch of the femoral artery. It gives off several important branches, with a tortuous course, supplying deep muscles of the thigh as well as the femur bone.
The profunda femoris artery arises from the posterior side of femoral artery, about 4 cm below the inguinal ligament. Then it extends across the iliopsoas and pectineus muscle, running laterally at first, next downwards behind the femoral artery. It travels between the vastus medialis and the adductor muscle. Finally, it ends up in the lower third portion of thigh.
Branches
As soon as the profunda femoris begins to run laterally and downwards, it gives off its two main branches; the medial circumflex femoral, which travels medially behind and around the neck of femur, and the lateral circumflex femoral artery, which stretches laterally to fork into an ascending and a descending branch. These two branches supply the pectineus, the adductor brevis, upper portion of vastus intermedius, and adductor longus muscle.
As it runs downwards, parallel to the femur bone, the profunda femoris gives off three deep branches; they are called the perforating arteries, the first, second and third, which supply the femur bone, and the lower portion of vastus intermedius and the adductor magnus muscle.
Below, a drawing of the thigh, exhibiting the femoral and the profunda femoris arteries, with its branches.
