INTERNAL ILIAC ARTERY, AND ITS BRANCHES. 233 



laminae of the broad ligament, in a tortuous manner along the 

 side of the uterus, and divides into many branches which are 

 distributed through the tissue of this organ. It anasiompses 

 with the corresponding arteries of the other side, and with the 

 branches of the spermatic artery which go to the Fallopian tube 

 and to the ovarium. 



Besides the preceding, the hypogastric, or Internal Iliac ar- 

 tery sends off two large branches, the Gluteal and the Ischiatic. 

 which terminate it. In many subjects they are the direct con- 

 tinuation of the two primitive trunks, into which the hypogas- 

 tric is frequently originally divided. 



The Gluteal Artery, (Arteria Glutea,) shortly after its origin, 

 issues from the pelvis above the pyriformis muscle, at the up- 

 per part of the ischiatic foramen, where it adheres closely to 

 the edge of the bone. When it first gets to the dorsum of the 

 ilium, it is covered by the gluteus magnus muscle, and lies at 

 the posterior margin of the gluteus minimus, precisely under a 

 line drawn from the posterior superior spinous process to the 

 top of the trochanter major. It almost immediately afterwards 

 divides into two principal trunks. 



One of these trunks, the more superficial, advances between 

 the gluteus medius and the magnus, and distributes branches to 

 them; also, to the posterior margin of the magnus, where it 

 comes from the posterior sacro-sciatic ligament. The more 

 deeply-seated trunk goes forwards between the gluteus medius 

 and minimus, and subdivides into three orders of branches for 

 their supply. One set follows the superior margin of the glu- 

 teus minimus towards the anterior superior spinous process ; 

 another set passes nearer the middle of the gluteus minimus; 

 and the third set still lower down upon the dorsum of the ilium, 

 above the acetabulum; some of the ramifications go to the cap- 

 sular ligament of the joint, where they anastomose with 

 branches from the femoral artery. 



The Ischiatic Artery (Arteria Ischiadica) is somewhat smaller 

 than the gluteal, but looks rather more like the continuation of 

 the hypogastric. It descends between the rectum and the py- 

 riformis muscle, and issues under the lower margin of the lat- 

 ter, out of the pelvis, being there placed in front of the sciatic 



21* 



