Fracture of the femoral neck can cause avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Which artery provides the principal blood supply to the femoral head in the adult?

• A Ascending branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery ✓
• B Inferior gluteal artery
• C Artery of the ligamentum teres (acetabular branch)
• D First perforating branch of the profunda femoris

Explanation

In adults, retinacular branches arising from the medial circumflex femoral artery pass along the posterosuperior neck inside the capsule and supply most of the femoral head. C displaced intracapsular fracture tears these branches. The artery of the ligamentum teres, from the obturator artery, supplies only a small portion of the head in adults, so relying on it cannot prevent necrosis after such a fracture.

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

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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