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- Discussion:
    - usually arises from lateral side of deep femoral artery;
    - in 15% of pts, it arises from femoral artery above profunda;
    - LFCA passes laterally in front of Psoas  & between branches of Femoral Nerve;
    - passes deep to Sartorius & rectus femoris, and divides into anterior, transverse, and descending branches;
    - ascending branch
           - passes upward beneath  Rectus Femoris & Tensor Fascia Lata;
           - it anastomoses w/ terminals of superior gluteal artery ;
    - transverse branch:
           - enters Vastus Lateralis , winds around femur below its greater trochanter, & anastomoses on back of thigh w/ MFCA,  inferior 
                  gluteal, & first perforating arteries (Cruciate Anastomosis );
    - descending branch:
           - may arise separately from femoral or profunda artery;
           - passes downward beneath the Rectus Femoris;
    - sends branches to Vastus Lateralis  & intermedius accompanied by branches of Femoral Nerve, & anastomoses w/ descending 
          genicular branch of  femoral artery and lateral superior genicular branch of popliteal artery; (see genicular arterial system)
    - it continues down fascia lata & sends multiple perforators to skin overlying fascia lata and lateral aspect of the knee;
    - lateral circumflex of femoral artery is principal source of blood to the trochanteric area & inferior part of femoral neck;
          - it anastomoses to limited degree w/ branches of medial circumflex;
    - nutrient artery  of femur sends branches to metaphysis or neck but does not contribute significantly to head