External Iliac Artery

	A12.2.00.001
	a. epigastrica inf., a. circumflexa ilium prof., a. cremasterica / a. ligamenti teres uteri

A. iliaca externa' is formed by the division of a. iliaca communis' at the point of the sacroiliac articulation. Under the peritoneum, it runs to the lacuna vasorum on the inner side m. psoas major. From there it continues as a. femoralis. Vena iliaca externa runs along the inside of the artery.

Supply Area[edit | edit source]

A. iliaca externa and its branches supply parts of the front and lateral muscles of the abdominal wall, part of the wall of the large pelvis, in men part of the testicle casings, in women lig. teres uteri, then both lower limbs.

Branches[edit | edit source]

A. epigastrica inferior[edit | edit source]

From a. iliaca externa, it departs behind the ligamentum inguinale, continues between the peritoneum and the lig. interfoveolare cranial to the posterior surface of the m. rectus abdominis under the posterior leaf of its sheath. Here it creates a flap by lifting the peritonea − plica umbilicalis lateralis. Anastomoses with a. epigastrica superior.

Outgoing branch:

r. pubicus' - goes mediocaudally to the os pubis and transmits:
- r. obturatorius'' - the connection a. obturatoria and r. pubicus, which can be injured during surgery femoral hernias, the bleeding is often undetected, but it is often fatal, which is why this association is referred to as corona mortis.

If the proximal section of the a. obturatoria is missing, the artery is replaced by r. pubicus from the a. epigastrica inferior, which is then called a. obturatoria accessoria.

A. cremasterica / a. ligamenti teretis uteri[edit | edit source]

A. cremasterica' is a branch in men going to the m. cremaster along the funiculus spermaticus.

A. ligamenti teretis uteri' runs along the lig. teres uteri up to labium majus.

A. circumflexa ilium profunda[edit | edit source]

This branch continues externally along the lig. inguinale and iliac crest. Anastomoses with the a. iliolumbalis - a branch of the a. iliaca interna. It supplies the muscles of the abdominal wall and m. iliacus.

Links[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

ŠIHÁK, Radomír – GRIM, Miloš. Anatomy 3. 2nd, revised and supplemented edition. Grada, 2004. 673 pp. vol. 3. ISBN 80-247-1132-X.