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ANGIOLOGY 





the hypogastric and runs medialward on the Levator ani and toward the cervix 

 uteri; about 2 cm. from the cervix it crosses above and in front of the ureter, to 

 which it supplies a small branch. Reaching the side of the uterus it ascends in a 

 tortuous manner between the two layers of the broad ligament to the junction 

 of the uterine tube and uterus. It then runs lateralward toward the hilus of the 

 ovary, and ends by joining with the ovarian artery. It supplies branches to the 

 cervix uteri and others which descend on the vagina; the latter anastomose with 

 branches of the vaginal arteries and form with them two median longitudinal 

 vessels the azygos arteries of the vagina one of which runs down in front of 

 and the other behind the vagina. It supplies numerous branches to the body of the 

 uterus, and from its terminal portion twigs are distributed to the uterine tube and 

 the round ligament of the uterus. 



The vaginal artery (a. vaginalis) usually corresponds to the inferior vesical in 

 the male; it descends upon the vagina, supplying its mucous membrane, and sends 

 branches to the bulb of the vestibule, the fundus of the bladder, and the contiguous 

 part of the rectum. It assists in forming the azygos arteries of the vagina, and 

 is frequently represented by two or three branches. 



Branches to tube 



Branches to fundus 



Round, ligament of uterus 



Uterine artery 

 Arteries of cervix 



FIG. 540. The arteries of the internal organs of generation of the female, seen from behind. (After Hyrtl.) 



The obturator artery (a. obturatorid) passes forward and downward on the lateral 

 wall of the pelvis, to the upper part of the obturator foramen, and, escaping from 

 the pelvic cavity through the obturator canal, it divides into an anterior and a 

 posterior branch. In the pelvic cavity this vessel is in relation, laterally, with the 

 obturator fascia; medially, with the ureter, ductus deferens, and peritoneum; 

 while a little below it is the obturator nerve. 



Branches. Inside the pelvis the obturator artery gives off iliac branches to the 

 iliac fossa, which supply the bone and the Iliacus, and anastomose with the ilio- 

 lumbar artery; a vesical branch, which runs backward to supply the bladder; and 

 a pubic branch, which is given off from the vessel just before it leaves the pelvic 

 cavity. The pubic branch ascends upon the back of the pubis, communicating 



