Lateral circumflex femoral vein
The lateral circumflex femoral vein follows the path of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, one of the arteries of the leg. The artery supplies oxygenated blood to the front and middle areas of the thigh, and the lateral circumflex femoral vein drains the deoxygenated blood and returns it to the lungs and heart for recirculation through the body. One clue to the location of this vein is its Latin name. The word femoral is a translated reference to the thigh. This vein is a branch of the superficial iliac circumflex vein. The superficial iliac divides from the deep femoral vein. The lateral circumflex femoral vein has three branches: the ascending, transverse, and descending. The blood vessels of the thigh are among the most commonly injured parts of the body's blood circulation system, usually by penetrating trauma. The lateral circumflex femoral vein, and other veins and arteries of the thigh, are at some risk in hip replacement surgery. These risks and the procedures to minimize and treat them are well reported in the medical literature and studied by surgeons.
Written and medically reviewed by the Healthline Editorial Team
In Depth: Lateral circumflex femoral vein