442 BRANCHES OF INTERNAL ILIAC ARTERY. 



This arteiy supplies small iDranches to the bladder and the tireter ; and, near 

 its temiination. communicates with an offset directed inwards from the ovarian 

 arteiy. 



Vaginal artery.— The vagina derives its arteries principally from a 

 branch which corresponds with the inferior vesical in the male. The 

 vaginal artery descends and ramifies upon the vagina, at the same time 

 sending some oftsets to the lower part of the bladder over the neck, and 

 others to the contiguous part of the rectum. 



Fig. 283. 



Fig. 283. — View of the distribtjtion of the Artkries to the Viscera of the 

 Female Pelvis, as seen on the removal of the left Os Innominatum, &c. 

 (from E. Quain). \ 



a, the left auricular surface of the sacrum ; h, the spine of the ischium with the short 

 sacro-sciatic ligament ; c, the os pubis divided a little to the left of the symphysis ; d, 

 placed upon the sigmoid part of the colon, and d' on the lower part of the urinary bladder, 

 point to the ureter ; e, on the upper part of the body of the uterus, points by a line to the 

 left ovary ;/, on the upper part of the bladder, points to the left Fallopian tur)e ;/', round 

 ligament of the uterus ; 1, left external iliac artery cut short ; 2, left internal iliac 

 arteiy ; 3, gluteal artery cut short ; 4, 4, left pudic artery from which a part has been 

 removed ; 4', the same artery after it has re-entered the pelvis proceeding towards the 

 muscles of the perinteum, clitoris, &c. ; 5, placed on the sacral nerves, points to the 

 sciatic artery ; G, 6', inferior vesical and vaginal arteries ; t>", branches from these to the 

 rectum ; 7, uterine artery much coiled ; 8, the superior vesical, and 8', the remains of 

 the hypogastric artery ; 9, 9, the left ovarian artery, descending from the aorta, and 

 emerging from below the peritoneum ; 10, the superior hamon-hoidal artery spreading 

 over the left side of the rectum. 



The obturator artery, while it usually arises from the anterior divi- 

 sion of the internal iliac artery, is sometimes derived from its posterior 

 division. The artery is directed forwards along the inside of the pelvis 

 to reach the groove at the upper part of the thyroid foramen. By this 

 aperture it passes out of the pelvis, and immediately divides into its 



