The Lateral Circumflex Femoral Artery System and Perforators of the Antero Lateral Thigh Flap: An Anatomical Study Figure 2.3 The anterolateral thigh flap (ALF) and Figure 2.4 Anatomic preparation of the antero- its pedicle are dissected and excised. Note the lateral thigh flap (ALTF) and the lateral circum- division of the descending branch of the lateral flex femoral arterial (LCFA) system. circumflex femoral artery (DBLCA) into a me- The ascending branch of the lateral circumflex dial branch (MBDBLCFA) and a lateral branch femoral artery (ABLCFA) arises from the trans- (LBDBLCFA). verse branch of the lateral circumflex femoral The perforator (PF) arises from the LBDBLCFA. artery (TBLCFA). FPA=femoralis profunda VLMBLCFA=vastus lateralis muscular branch of artery; LCFV=lateral circumflex femoral vein; the LCFA; ABLCFA=ascending branch of the MDBLCFA=medial descending branch of the LCFA. lateral circumflex femoral artery; MBVIM=mus- cular branch of the vastus intermedius muscle; LDBLCFA=lateral descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery; PV=perforating vessel. Lateral Circumflex Femoral Artery We noticed several peculiarities in the anatomic pattern of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and in its three branches (ascending branch, transverse branch, descending branch). In seven of the studied thighs (cadavers 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11), the descending branch branched into a medial branch and a lateral branch (Fig 2.3). In Cadaver 10 (left thigh), the medial descending branch arose directly from the lateral circumflex femoral artery. In the right thigh of Cadaver 7, the descending branch ran all along its course, downward through the intermuscular space between the rectus femoris and the vastus intermedius muscles, rather than going through the intermuscular 24
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