Medical Gross Anatomy
Anatomy Tables - Arteries of the Pelvis and Perineum

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Artery Source Branches Supply to Notes
aorta, abdominal the continuation of the descending thoracic aorta inferior phrenic aa. (2), celiac trunk, middle suprarenal aa. (2), lumbar aa. (4 pairs), superior mesenteric a., renal aa. (2), testicular/ovarian aa. (2), inferior mesenteric a., median sacral a., common iliac aa. (2) abdominal wall; gastrointestinal tract; body below the level of the respiratory diaphragm abdominal aorta passes posterior to the diaphragm (aortic hiatus) at the level of the T12 vertebral body
of bulb of penis internal pudendal a. no named branches bulb of the penis and associated tissues artery of the bulb of the penis courses within the deep perineal space to enter the deep surface of the bulb
of bulb of vestibule internal pudendal a. no named branches bulb of the vestibule and associated tissues artery of the bulb of the vestibule courses within the deep perineal space to enter the deep surface of the bulb
clitoris, deep a. of internal pudendal a. no named branches corpus cavernosum of the clitoris deep a. of the clitoris and dorsal a. of the clitoris are the terminal brs. of the internal pudendal a.
clitoris, dorsal a. of internal pudendal a. no named branches superficial structures of the clitoris dorsal a. of the clitoris and deep a. of the clitoris are the terminal brs. of the internal pudendal a.
cremasteric inferior epigastric a. no named branches cremaster m., coverings of the spermatic cord cremasteric a. is one of the contents of the spermatic cord; it anastomoses with the testicular artery distally
deep external pudendal femoral a. unnamed muscular branches origins of pectineus m., adductor longus m.; scrotum/labium majus deep external pudendal a. may arise from the medial circumflex femoral a.
deep, of clitoris internal pudendal a. no named branches corpus cavernosum of the clitoris deep a. of the clitoris and dorsal a. of the clitoris are the terminal brs. of the internal pudendal a.
deep, of penis internal pudendal a. no named branches corpus cavernosum of the penis deep a. of the penis and dorsal a. of the penis are the terminal brs. of the internal pudendal a.
dorsal, of clitoris internal pudendal a. no named branches superficial tissues of the clitoris dorsal a. of the clitoris and deep a. of the clitoris are the terminal brs. of the internal pudendal a.
dorsal, of penis internal pudendal a. no named branches superficial tissues of the penis dorsal a. of the penis and deep a. of the penis are the terminal brs. of the internal pudendal a.
ductus deferens, artery of umbilical a.; may be a branch of the superior or inferior vesical a. no named branches ductus deferens, seminal vesical; possibly supplies the ureter artery of the ductus deferens is also known as: deferential a.
epigastric, inferior external iliac a. cremasteric a. lower rectus abdominis m., pyramidalis m., lower abdominal wall inferior epigastric a. anastomoses with the superior epigastric a. within the rectus abdominis m.
external pudendal, deep femoral a. unnamed muscular branches origins of pectineus m., adductor longus m.; scrotum/labium majus deep external pudendal a. may arise from the medial circumflex femoral a.
external pudendal, superficial femoral a. no named branches skin and superficial fascia of the upper medial thigh, skin of the pubic region superficial external pudendal a. is one of three superficial branches of the femoral a. near the inguinal ligament (see also: superficial circumflex iliac a., superficial epigastric a.)
gluteal, inferior internal iliac a., anterior division unnamed muscular branches gluteus maximus m., hip joint inferior gluteal a. participates in the formation of the cruciate anastomoses of the hip
gluteal, superior internal iliac, posterior division superficial br., deep br. gluteus maximus m., gluteus medius m., gluteus minimus m., hip joint superior gluteal a. participates in the formation of the cruciate anastomoses of the hip
iliac, common abdominal aorta external iliac a., internal iliac a. pelvis, lower limb abdominal aorta bifurcates at the level of the L4 vertebral body to form the right and left common iliac aa.; the common iliac artery bifurcates anterior to the sacroiliac articulation into its terminal brs. (external iliac a. and internal iliac a.)
iliac, external common iliac a. inferior epigastric a., deep circumflex iliac a., femoral a. lower limb external iliac a. is continuous with the femoral a., the name change occurs at the inguinal ligament; the common iliac artery bifurcates anterior to the sacroiliac articulation
iliac, internal common iliac a. anterior division gives rise to the : umbilical a., obturator a., uterine a., vaginal a., inferior vesical a., middle rectal a., internal pudendal a., inferior gluteal a.; posterior division gives rise to the: iliolumbar a., lateral sacral a., superior gluteal a. pelvic viscera, gluteal region, hip, medial thigh common iliac artery bifurcates anterior to the sacroiliac articulation to form the internal iliac a. and the external iliac a.
iliolumbar internal iliac a., posterior division iliac br., lumbar br. iliacus m., psoas major m., quadratus lumborum m. lumbar br. of the iliolumbar a. sends a small spinal br. into the vertebral canal
inferior gluteal internal iliac a., anterior division unnamed muscular branches gluteus maximus m., hip joint inferior gluteal a. participates in the formation of the cruciate anastomoses of the hip
inferior rectal internal pudendal a. no named branches anus, ischioanal fossa inferior rectal a. anastomoses with the middle rectal a. and the superior rectal a.
inferior vesical internal iliac a., anterior division or it may arise from the middle rectal a. no named branches lower part of the urinary bladder, prostate/vagina inferior vesical a. anastomoses with the middle rectal a.
internal iliac common iliac a. anterior division gives rise to the : umbilical a., obturator a., uterine a., vaginal a., inferior vesical a., middle rectal a., internal pudendal a., inferior gluteal a.; posterior division gives rise to the: iliolumbar a., lateral sacral a., superior gluteal a. pelvic viscera, gluteal region, hip, medial thigh common iliac artery bifurcates anterior to the sacroiliac articulation to form the internal iliac a. and the external iliac a.
internal pudendal internal iliac a., anterior division inferior rectal a., perineal a., artery of the bulb of the clitoris/penis, urethral a., deep clitoral/penile a., dorsal clitoral/penile a. anus, muscles of the superficial and deep perineal spaces, clitoris/penis, posterior aspect of the scrotum/labium majus internal pudendal a. is the primary blood supply to the perineum
labial, posterior perineal a. no named branches posterior aspect of the labium majus posterior labial a. courses through the superficial perineal space
lateral sacral internal iliac a., posterior division spinal brs. sacrum, sacral nerve rootlets, meninges, adjacent muscles there are usually 2 lateral sacral aa. on each side, a superior one and an inferior one
middle rectal internal iliac, anterior division no named branches middle portion of the rectum middle rectal a. anastomoses with the inferior rectal a and the superior rectal a.
obturator internal iliac a., anterior division pubic br., acetabular br., anterior br., posterior br. medial thigh and hip anterior and posterior brs. pass on the anterior and posterior sides of the adductor brevis m.; aberrant obturator a. arises from the inferior epigastric a. in 30% of cases
ovarian abdominal aorta tubal brs., uterine brs. ovary, uterine tube ovarian a. anastomoses with the uterine a.
penis, deep internal pudendal a. no named branches corpus cavernosum of the penis deep a. of the penis and dorsal a. of the penis are the terminal brs. of the internal pudendal a.
penis, dorsal internal pudendal a. no named branches superficial tissues of the penis dorsal a. of the penis and deep a. of the penis are the terminal brs. of the internal pudendal a.
penis, of bulb internal pudendal a. no named branches bulb of the penis and associated tissues artery of the bulb of the penis courses within the deep perineal space to enter the deep surface of the bulb
perineal internal pudendal a. posterior labial/scrotal; deep br. posterior aspect of the scrotum/labium majus; muscles of the superficial perineal space perineal a. courses superficial to the superficial transverse perineus m.; it courses with the perineal n.
posterior labial perineal a. no named branches posterior aspect of the labium majus posterior labial a. courses through the superficial perineal space
posterior scrotal perineal a. no named branches posterior aspect of the scrotum posterior scrotal a. passes superficial to the superficial transverse perineus m.
pudendal, deep external femoral a. unnamed muscular branches origins of pectineus m., adductor longus m.; scrotum/labium majus deep external pudendal a. may arise from the medial circumflex femoral a.
pudendal, internal internal iliac a., anterior division inferior rectal a., perineal a., artery of the bulb of the clitoris/penis, urethral a., deep clitoral/penile a., dorsal clitoral/penile a. anus, muscles of the superficial and deep perineal spaces, clitoris/penis, posterior aspect of the scrotum/labium majus internal pudendal a. is the primary blood supply to the perineum
pudendal, superficial external femoral a. no named branches skin and superficial fascia of the upper medial thigh, skin of the pubic region superficial external pudendal a. is one of three superficial branches of the femoral a. near the inguinal ligament (see also: superficial circumflex iliac a., superficial epigastric a.)
rectal, inferior internal pudendal a. no named branches anus, ischioanal fossa inferior rectal a. anastomoses with the middle rectal a. and the superior rectal a.
rectal, middle internal iliac, anterior division no named branches middle portion of the rectum middle rectal a. anastomoses with the inferior rectal a and the superior rectal a.
rectal, superior inferior mesenteric a. two unnamed branches superior part of the rectum superior rectal a. is the continuation of the inferior mesenteric a. after the sigmoid brs. are given off; it anastomoses with the middle rectal a. and the inferior rectal a.
sacral, lateral internal iliac a., posterior division spinal brs. sacrum, sacral nerve rootlets, meninges, adjacent muscles there are usually 2 lateral sacral aa. on each side, a superior one and an inferior one
sacral, median abdominal aorta 5th lumbar aa. sacrum median sacral a. appears to be the continuation of the abdominal aorta in the median plane, although it is much smaller in size
scrotal, posterior perineal a. no named branches posterior aspect of the scrotum posterior scrotal a. passes superficial to the superficial transverse perineus m.
superficial external pudendal femoral a. no named branches skin and superficial fascia of the upper medial thigh, skin of the pubic region superficial external pudendal a. is one of three superficial branches of the femoral a. near the inguinal ligament (see also: superficial circumflex iliac a., superficial epigastric a.)
testicular abdominal aorta ureteric brs. testis, epididymis, lower part of the ductus deferens, ureter near its midpoint testicular a. is one of the contents of the spermatic cord; the origin of the testicular a. from the aorta at the L2 vertebral level indicates the embryonic level of origin of the testis prior to its descent
umbilical internal iliac a., anterior division superior vesical aa., a. of the ductus deferens superior part of the bladder; ductus deferens distal to the branches described at left, the lumen of the umbilical a. becomes obliterated after birth and the remnant of the vessel becomes the medial umbilical ligament
urethral internal pudendal a. no named branches penile urethra urethral a. branches off of the internal pudendal a. within the deep perineal space
uterine internal iliac a., anterior division tubal br., vaginal br. uterus, uterine tube uterine a. anastomoses with the ovarian a. and the vaginal a.; it passes superior to the ureter in the pelvis; remember the saying "water under the bridge"
vaginal internal iliac a., anterior division; occasionally it arises from uterine a. numerous unnamed branches vagina anastomoses with the uterine a.; participates in the formation of the azygos arteries along the lateral surface of the vagina
vesical, inferior internal iliac a., anterior division or it may arise from the middle rectal a. no named branches lower part of the urinary bladder, prostate/vagina inferior vesical a. anastomoses with the middle rectal a.
vesical, superior umbilical a. no named branches superior aspect of the bladder superior vesical aa.arise from the umbilical a. proximal to where its lumen becomes obliterated
vestibule, bulb of internal pudendal a. no named branches bulb of the vestibule and associated tissues artery of the bulb of the vestibule courses within the deep perineal space to enter the deep surface of the bulb

The material presented in these tables is contained in the book:
MedCharts Anatomy by Thomas R. Gest & Jaye Schlesinger
Published by ILOC, Inc., New York
Copyright © 1995, unauthorized use prohibited.
The excellent editorial assistance of
Dr. Pat Tank, UAMS
is gratefully acknowledged.