Internal iliac artery

Internal iliac artery is the inner branch of the common iliac artery on either side of the body which divides into several branches that supply blood to the pelvic and gluteal areas.

Other names

Hypogastric artery

Iliac artery bifurcation

Embryology

During fetal development, the internal iliac artery originates from the umbilical artery and the proximal aspect of the umbilical artery persists throughout development, but the distal end gets obliterated and becomes a solid fibrous cord, the medial umbilical ligament (otherwise known as the obliterated hypogastric artery).

Origin of internal iliac artery

Internal iliac artery starts at the bifurcation of the common iliac artery, and divides into two large trunks, an anterior and a posterior.

Course

After it originates at the bifurcation of the common iliac artery at the vertebral level L5-S1, it descends inferiorly, crossing the pelvic inlet to enter the lesser pelvis.

Position and relation to other structures

As the artery descent, it is situated medially to the external iliac vein and obturator nerve.

Branches

At the superior border of the greater sciatic foramen, it divides into anterior and posterior trunks. The branches of the internal iliac artery include: iliolumbar artery, lateral sacral artery, superior gluteal artery, inferior gluteal artery, middle rectal artery, uterine artery, obturator artery, inferior vesical artery, superior vesical artery, obliterated umbilical artery, internal pudendal artery.

Internal iliac arteries

Branches of the anterior trunk

• Obturator artery: Traveling through the obturator canal, it supplies the muscles of the thigh’s adductor region.
• Umbilical artery: supplies the superior aspect of the urinary bladder and also gives rise to superior vesical artery
  • In utero, the umbilical artery transports deoxygenated blood from the fetus to the placenta.
• Inferior vesical artery: Supplies the lower aspect of the bladder (and prostate gland and seminal vesicles in males).
• Vaginal artery: Descends to the vagina, supplying additional branches to the inferior bladder and rectum.

• Uterine artery (female): supplies uterus
• Middle rectal artery: supplies rectum
• Internal pudendal artery: provides blood supply to the perineum.
• Inferior gluteal artery: supplies gluteal muscles.

Hypogastric artery

Branches of the posterior trunk

• Iliolumbar artery: supplies the muscles and bone around the iliac fossa.
• Lateral sacral arteries (superior and inferior) – supplies blood to structures in the sacral canal, and the skin and muscle posterior to the sacrum.
• Superior gluteal artery – is the blood supply to the muscles and skin of the gluteal region.

Variations of internal iliac artery

Ligation of internal iliac artery

Ligation of the internal iliac artery is used to control intractable pelvic hemorrhage and can be a life-saving procedure during peripartum bleeding

See also

• External iliac artery
• Internal iliac vein

Gray's Anatomy

• Gray's Anatomy Contents
• Gray's Anatomy Subject Index
• About Classic Gray's Anatomy
• Note to Contributors of Gray's Anatomy
• Glossary of anatomy terms

Anatomy atlases (external)

[1] - Anatomy Atlases

Internal iliac artery Resources
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Internal iliac artery Resources
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