In an adult undergoing hemiarthroplasty planning after a femoral neck fracture, the surgeon must preserve the dominant blood supply to the femoral head. This supply is derived chiefly from which artery?

• A Artery of the ligamentum teres (acetabular branch of the obturator artery)
• B Perforating branches of the profunda femoris artery
• C Descending branch of the superior gluteal artery
• D Ascending branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery ✓

Explanation

In adults the retinacular ascending branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery, running along the posterosuperior neck beneath the capsule, supply most of the femoral head; their disruption in intracapsular fracture causes avascular necrosis. The artery of the ligamentum teres contributes negligibly after childhood and is often torn in displaced fractures, which kills option A as the dominant source.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.