620 ANGIOLOGY 



The Deep Artery of the Penis (a. prof undo, penis; artery to the corpus cavernosum) , 

 one of the terminal branches of the internal pudendal, arises from that vessel 

 while it is situated between the two fasciae of the urogenital diaphragm; it 

 pierces the inferior fascia, and, entering the crus penis obliquely, runs forward 

 in the center of the corpus cavernosum penis, to which its branches are distributed. 



The Dorsal Artery of the Penis (a. dorsalis penis') ascends between the crus penis 

 and the pubic symphysis, and, piercing the inferior fascia of the urogenital dia- 

 phragm, passes between the two layers of the suspensory ligament of the penis, 

 and runs forward on the dorsum of the penis to the glans, where it divides into two 

 branches, which supply the glans and prepuce. On the penis, it lies between the 

 dorsal nerve and deep dorsal vein, the former being on its lateral side. It supplies 

 the integument and fibrous sheath of the corpus cavernosum penis, sending branches 

 through the sheath to anastomose with the preceding vessel. 



The internal pudendal artery in the female is smaller than in the male. Its origin 

 and course are similar, and there is considerable analogy in the distribution of its 

 branches. The perineal artery supplies the labia pudendi; the artery of the bulb 

 supplies the bulbus vestibuli and the erectile tissue of the vagina; the deep artery 

 of the clitoris supplies the corpus cavernosum clitoridis; and the dorsal artery of 

 the clitoris supplies the dorsum of that organ, and ends in the glans and prepuce 

 of the clitoris. 



The inferior gluteal artery (a. gluta>a inferior; sciatic artery} (Fig. 544), the 

 larger of the two terminal branches of the anterior trunk of the hypogastric, is 

 distributed chiefly to the buttock and back of the thigh. It passes down on the 

 sacral plexus of nerves and the Piriformis, behind the internal pudendal artery, 

 to the lower part of the greater sciatic foramen, through which it escapes from the 

 pelvis between the Piriformis and Coccygeus. It then descends in the interval 

 between the greater trochanter of the femur and tuberosity of the ischium, accom- 

 panied by the sciatic and posterior femoral cutaneous nerves, and covered by the 

 Glutseus maximus, and is continued down the back of the thigh, supplying the 

 skin, and anastomosing with branches of the perforating arteries. 



Inside the pelvis it distributes branches to the Piriformis, Coccygeus, and Levator 

 ani; some branches which supply the fat around the rectum, and occasionally 

 take the place of the middle hemorrhoidal artery; and vesical branches to the 

 fundus of the bladder, vesiculse seminales, and prostate. Outside the pelvis it gives 

 off the following branches : 



Muscular. Anastomotic. 



Coccygeal. Articular. 



Comitans Nervi Ischiadici. Cutaneous. 



The Muscular Branches supply the Glutseus maximus, anastomosing with the 

 superior gluteal artery in the substance of the muscle; the external rotators, 

 anastomosing with the internal pudendal artery; and the muscles attached to 

 the tuberosity of the ischium, anastomosing with the posterior branch of the 

 obturator and the medial femoral circumflex arteries. 



The Coccygeal Branches run medialward, pierce the sacrotuberous ligament, and 

 supply the Glutseus maximus, the integument, and other structures on the back 

 of the coccyx. 



The Arteria Comitans Nervi Ischiadici is a long, slender vessel, which accom- 

 panies the sciatic nerve for a short distance ; it then penetrates it, and runs in its 

 substance to the lower part of the thigh. 



The Anastomotic is directed downward across the external rotators, and assists 

 in forming the so-called crucial anastomosis by joining with the first perforating 

 and medial and lateral femoral circumflex arteries. 



The Articular Branch, generally derived from the anastomotic, is distributed to 

 the capsule of the hip-joint. 



