| Perforating arteries | |
|---|---|
 The arteries of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions. | |
 The deep femoral artery and its major perforating branches (labeled at right center), as seen on right thigh, anterior view. | |
| Details | |
| Source | Deep femoral artery |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteriae perforantes |
| TA98 | A12.2.16.031 |
| TA2 | 4696 |
| FMA | 69460 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The perforating arteries are branches of the deep artery of the thigh,[1] usually three in number, so named because they perforate the tendon of the adductor magnus to reach the back of the thigh. They pass backward near the linea aspera of the femur underneath the small tendinous arches of the adductor magnus muscle.
The first perforating artery arises from the deep artery of the thigh above the adductor brevis, the second in front of this muscle, and the third immediately below it.
- ^ Swift, Hilary; Bordoni, Bruno (2022), "Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Femoral Artery", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30855850, retrieved 2023-01-11