



ARTERY 



The inferior epigastric artery (a. epigastrica inferior; deep epigastric artery) 

 (Fig. 547) arises from the external iliac, immediately above the inguinal ligament. 

 It curves forward in the subperitoneal tissue, and then ascends obliquely along 

 the medial margin of the abdominal inguinal ring; continuing its course upward, 

 it pierces the transversalis fascia, and, passing in front of the linea semicircularis, 

 ascends between the Rectus abdominis and the posterior lamella of its sheath. 

 It finally divides into numerous branches, which anastomose, above the umbilicus, 

 with the superior epigastric branch of the internal mammary and with the lower 

 intercostal arteries (Fig. 522). As the inferior epigastric artery passes obliquely 

 upward from its origin it lies along the lower and medial margins of the abdominal 

 inguinal ring, and behind the commencement of the spermatic cord. The ductus 

 deferens, as it leaves the spermatic cord in the male, and the round ligament of the 

 uterus in the female, winds around the lateral and posterior aspects of the artery. 



Branches. The branches of the vessel are : the external spermatic artery (cremasteric 

 artery), which accompanies the spermatic cord, and supplies the Cremaster and 

 other coverings of the cord, anastomosing with the internal spermatic artery (in 

 the female it is very small and accompanies the round ligament); a pubic branch 

 which runs along the inguinal ligament, and then descends along the medial margin 

 of the femoral ring to the back of the pubis, and there anastomoses with the pubic 

 branch of the obturator artery ; muscular branches, some of which are distributed to 

 the abdominal muscles and peritoneum, anastomosing with the iliac circumflex 

 and lumbar arteries; branches which perforate the tendon of the Obliquus 

 externus, and supply the integument, anastomosing with branches of the super- 

 ficial epigastric. 



Peculiarities. The origin of the inferior epigastric may take place from any part of the external 

 iliac between the inguinal ligament and a point 6 cm. above it; or it may arise below this ligament, 

 from the femoral. It frequently springs from the external iliac, by a common trunk with the 

 obturator. Sometimes it arises from the obturator, the latter vessel being furnished by the 

 hypogastric, or it may be formed of two branches, one derived from the- external iliac, the other 

 from the hypogastric. 



The deep iliac circumflex artery (a. circumflexa ilium pro/undo) arises from the 

 lateral aspect of the external iliac nearly opposite the inferior epigastric artery. 

 It ascends obliquely lateralward behind the inguinal ligament, contained in a 

 fibrous sheath formed by the junction of the transversalis fascia and iliac fascia, 

 to the anterior superior iliac spine, where it anastomoses with the ascending branch 

 of the lateral femoral circumflex artery. It then pierces the transversalis fascia 

 and passes along the inner lip of the crest of the ilium to about its middle, where 

 it perforates the Transversus, and runs backward between that muscle and the 

 Obliquus internus, to anastomose with the iliolumbar and superior gluteal arteries. 

 Opposite the anterior superior spine of the ilium it gives off a large branch, which 

 ascends between the Obliquus internus and Transversus muscles, supplying them, 

 and anastomosing with the lumbar and inferior epigastric arteries. 



THE ARTERIES OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY. 



The artery which supplies the greater part of the lower extremity is the direct 

 continuation of the external iliac. It runs as a single trunk from the inguinal 

 ligament to the lower border of the Popliteus, where it divides into two branches, 

 the anterior and posterior tibial. The upper part of the main trunk is named the 

 femoral, the lower part the popliteal. 



THE FEMORAL ARTERY (A. FEMORALIS) (Figs. 549, 550). 



The femoral artery begins immediately behind the inguinal ligament, midway 

 between the anterior superior spine of the ilium and the symphysis pubis, and 



