[1] It travels down the thigh closer to the femur than the femoral artery.

[1] It pierces the adductor magnus muscle, and may be known as the fourth perforating artery as it continues.

[2] The lateral circumflex femoral artery supplies muscles of the knee extensor group (vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris).

[2] The perforating arteries supply the hamstring muscles (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris).

[2] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 629 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)