ABSTRACT
Context: Many different patterns have been described to classify the origins of circumflex femoral arteries by many authors since from 1860.The aim of the present study was to classify the circumflex femoral arteries in 100 lower limbs of adult cadavers of both sexes following the recent classification and to compare with the previous studies. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 lower limbs of 50 embalmed human adult cadavers (Male: 37, Female: 13) were dissected and observed for the origins of circumflex femoral arteries in femoral triangle in routine educational dissection in the period of 2005-2009 Results: The medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries have been classified into three different patterns based on the levels of their origin. Pattern I: Both arteries arose from the profunda femoris artery (56%). Type Ia, medial circumflex femoral artery origin was proximal to the lateral circumflex femoral artery origin (69%); Type Ib, lateral circumflex femoral artery origin was proximal to medial circumflex femoral artery origin (16 %); Type Ic, both arteries arose from a common trunk or at same level (14%). Pattern II: One of the arteries arose from the femoral artery and the other from the profunda femoris artery (36%). Type IIa, the medial circumflex femoral artery arose from the femoral artery (75%) and Type IIb, the lateral circumflex femoral artery arose from the femoral artery (25%).Pattern III: Both arteries arose from the femoral artery (7%). The medial circumflex femoral artery was absent in a female cadaver on right side. Conclusion: In every pattern or type, there was significantly unilateral higher occurrence than bilateral occurrence. A precise knowledge of the circumflex femoral arteries in relation to the profunda femoris artery is important in surgical interventions of the hip region.