Iliac Arteries and Veins

Abdominal aorta

• Testicular and ovarian arteries originate below renal arteries

• Median (middle) sacral artery is small, unpaired branch from posterior aspect of distal aorta

• Divides into common iliac arteries at L4-5

Common iliac arteries

• Run anterior to iliac veins and inferior vena cava

• Usually no major branches

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    Rarely, gives off aberrant iliolumbar or accessory renal arteries

• ~ 4 cm long

External iliac artery

• No major branches

• Exits pelvis beneath inguinal ligament

• Larger than internal iliac artery

• Inferior epigastric (medial) and deep iliac circumflex (lateral) arteries demarcate junction between external iliac and common femoral arteries

Internal iliac (hypogastric) artery

• Principal vascular supply of pelvic organs

• Divides into anterior and posterior trunk

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    Anterior trunk to pelvic viscera

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    Posterior trunk to pelvic musculature

Anterior trunk of internal iliac artery

• Branching pattern quite variable

• Umbilical artery

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    Only pelvic segment remains patent after birth

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    Remainder becomes fibrous medial umbilical ligament

• Obturator artery

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    Exits pelvis through obturator canal to supply medial thigh muscles

• Superior vesicle artery

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    Supplies bladder and distal ureter

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    Gives off branch to ductus deferens in males

• Inferior vesicle artery (male)

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    May arise from middle rectal artery

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    Supplies prostate, seminal vesicles and lower ureters

• Uterine artery (female)

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    Passes over ureter at level of cervix ("water under the bridge")

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    Anastomoses with vaginal and ovarian arteries

• Vaginal artery (female)

• Middle rectal artery runs above pelvic floor and anastomoses with superior and inferior rectal arteries to supply rectum

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    Also anastomoses with inferior vesicle artery

• Internal pudendal artery

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    Supplies external genitalia (penis, clitoris) and rectum

• Inferior gluteal (sciatic) artery

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    Largest and terminal branch of anterior division of hypogastric artery

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    Supplies muscles of pelvic floor, thigh, buttocks and sciatic nerve

Posterior division of internal iliac artery

• Iliolumbar artery

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    Ascends laterally to supply iliacus, psoas, and quadratus lumborum muscles

• Lateral sacral artery

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    Runs medially toward sacral foramina to anastomose with middle sacral artery

• Superior gluteal artery

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    Largest and terminal branch of posterior division

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    Supplies piriformis and gluteal muscles

External iliac vein

• Upward continuation of femoral vein at level of inguinal ligament

• Receives inferior epigastric, deep iliac circumflex, and pubic veins

Internal iliac vein begins near upper part of greater sciatic foramen

• Gluteal, internal pudendal and obturator veins have origins outside pelvis

• Pelvic viscera drain into multiple, deep pelvic venous plexuses

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    These drain into veins, which roughly parallel pelvic arteries

Right gonadal vein drains into IVC, left gonadal vein drains into left renal vein

Common iliac vein formed by union of external and internal iliac veins

• Unites with contralateral side to form IVC