retinacular arteries

branches of the medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries that extend to the head of the femur within the retinacular folds of synovial membrane surrounding the neck of the femur. Collectively, these arteries provide the main blood supply to the femoral head.

References in periodicals archive ?

The femoral head has an inherently vulnerable blood supply due to its natural course (20) It is fed by a different vessels, predominantly by branches of the medial and lateral femoral circumflex arteries that encircles the femoral head in the trochanteric area and branch off into retinacular vessels that pass proximally toward the head in three segments: small anterior, posteroinferior and posterosuperior retinacular arteries. Anterosuperior femoral head usually supplied by the acetabular branch of the obturator artery through ligament of teres.

Results of delayed fixation of displaced femoral neck fractures in adults: a retrospective clinical study