812 THE VASCULAR SYSTEM. 
branches which anastomose with terminal offsets of the superior epigastric branch 
of the internal mammary artery and with the lower intercostal arteries. At the 
internal abdominal ring in the male the vas deferens, the spermatic vessels, and the 
genital branch of the genito-crural nerve hook round the front and outer side of 
Psoas muscle _ 
= 
Ureter— 
Inferior vena cava 
Genito-crural nerve 
External cutaneous nerve _ 
Hio-i il Common iliae artery 
io-inguinal nerve 
Left common iliac vein 
Ilio-lumbar —_____- 
artery 
Right common 
iliae vein 
Internal iliac vein 
Internal iliac 
Anterior crural ~ artery 
nerve 
lviee 
Iliacus muscle — Pelvic colon 
Hy Ureter 
} | 
At! — Uterine artery 
_ Ovary : 
!_ _ Uterus 
Fallopian tube j 
Psoas muscle — 
External iliac 
artery 
Deep circumflex 
iliac artery 
External iliac vein 
Deep epigastric +—— Obturator artery 
eae Superior vesical 
~artery 
a 
Round ligament — Bladder 
_ Obliterated hypo- 
gastric artery 
Urethra 
Symphysis 
Fig. 572.—THeE Intac ARTERIES AND VEINS 1N THE FEMALE. 
the artery, the vas deferens turning inwards behind it; whilst in the female the 
round ligament of the uterus and the genital branch of the genito-crural nerve — 
occupy the corresponding positions. 
Branches.—(«) Muscular branches which spring mainly from the outer side of the 
artery supply the rectus, the pyramidalis, the transversalis, and the oblique muscles of the 
abdominal wall, and they anastomose with branches of the deep Baanaee iliac, the 
lumbar, and the lower intercostal arteries. (+) Cutaneous branches which pass from the 
front of the deep epigastric pierce the rectus abdominis and the front part of its sheath, 
and terminate in the subcutaneous tissues of the anterior abdominal wall, where they 
anastomose with corresponding branches of the opposite side and with branches of the 
superticial epigastric artery. (c) The eremasteric branch (a. spermatica externa in the 
male, a. ligamenti teretis uteri in the female) is small. It descends through the inguinal 
canal and anastomoses with the external pudie and superficial perineal arteries, and in the 
male with the spermatic artery also. In the male it accompanies the spermatic cord, 
supplying its coverings, including the cremaster. In the female it runs with the round 
ligament. (d¢) The pubic branch (ramus pubicus) descends either on the outer or the inner 
side of the crural ring to anastomose with the pubic branch of the obturator artery ; it also 
anastomoses with its fellow of the opposite side. Sometimes when the obturator branch 
of the internal iliac artery is absent, the pubic branch of the deep epigastric artery 
enlarges and becomes the obturator artery, which descends to the obturator foramen 
