Variations in the anatomic origin of the nutrient artery of the canine femur

In the literature the nutrient artery to the diaphysis of the canine femur has been described as arising from the medial circumflex femoral artery which is a branch of the deep femoral artery. However in 19% to 100 canine hind extremities dissected after injection with colored media, the femoral nutrient artery arose from a large muscular branch (the proximal posterior femoral) of the superficial femoral artery. In 17% of 42 dogs one femur only was supplied by this variant. In three additional femurs other variations occurred.