344 INTERNAL PUDIC ARTERY. 



prostate gland. The branches external to the pelvis, are four in 

 number, namely, coccygeal, inferior gluteal, comes nervi ischiatici, and 

 muscular branches. 



The Coccygeal branch pierces the great sacro-ischiatic ligament, and 

 is distributed to the coccygeus and levator ani muscles, and to the 

 integument around the anus and coccyx. 



The Inferior gluteal branches supply the gluteus maximus muscle. 



The Comes nervi ischiatici is a small but regular branch, which ac- 

 companies the great ischiatic nerve to the lower part of the thigh. 



The Muscular branches supply the muscles of the posterior part of 

 the hip and thigh, and inosculate with the internal and external cir- 

 cumflex arteries, with the obturator, and with the superior perforating 

 artery. 



The INTERNAL PUDIC ARTERY, the other terminal branch of the 

 anterior trunk of the internal iliac, descends in front of the ischiatic 

 artery to the lower border of the great ischiatic foramen. It emerges 

 from the pelvis through the great sacro-ischiatic foramen below the 

 pyriformis muscle, crosses the spine of the ischium, and re-enters the 

 pelvis through the lesser sacro-ischiatic foramen ; it then crosses the 

 internal obturator muscle to the ramus of the ischium, being situated 

 at about an inch from the margin of the tuberosity, and bound down 

 by the obturator fascia ; it next ascends the ramus of the ischium, 

 enters between the two layers of the deep perineal fascia lying along 

 the border of the ramus of the os pubis, and at the symphysis pierces 

 the anterior layer of the deep perineal fascia, and very much diminish- 

 ed in size reaches the dorsum of the penis along which it runs, sup- 

 plying that organ under the name of the dorsalis penis. 



Branches. The branches of the internal pudic artery within the 

 pelvis are several small ramuscules to the base of the bladder, the 

 vesiculse seminales, and the prostate gland; and hamorrJioidal branches 

 which supply the middle of the rectum, and frequently take the place 

 of the middle haemorrhoidal branch of the internal iliac. 



The branches, external to the pelvis, are the 



External haeraorrhoidal, 

 Superficialis perinei, 



Transversalis perinei, 

 Arteria bulbosi, 

 Arteria corporis cavernosi, 

 Arteria dorsalis penis. 



The External hcemorrhoid,al arteries are three or four small branches, 

 given off by the internal pudic while behind the tuberosity of the 

 ischium.' They are distributed to the anus, and to the muscles, the 

 fascia, and the integument in the anal region of the perineum. 



The Superficial perineal artery is given off near the attachment of 

 the crus penis ; it pierces the connecting layer of the superficial and 



