A Study of the Gross Anatomy of the Arteries Supplying the Proximal Portion of the Femur and the Acetabulum

The blood supply to the acetabulum, to the trochanters, and to the neck of the femur is abundant and is derived from several arteries. Nourishment of the femoral head in the adult is supplied by the foveal and cervical arteries, but to a greater degree by capital branches of the medial femoral circumflex artery which course along the neck to enter the femoral head at the articular rim. The vulnerability of these vital arteries explains the high incidence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head.