310 UTERINE, VAGINAL, AND OKTURATOK ARTERIES. 



The Artery of the bulb is given off from the pudic nearly opposite 

 the opening for the transmission of the urethra; it passes nearly 

 transversely inwards between the two layers of the deep perineal 

 fascia, and pierces the anterior layer to enter the corpus spongiosum 

 at its bulbous extremity. It is distributed to the corpus spongiosum. 



The Artery of the corpus cavernosum pierces the crus penis, and 

 runs forward in the interior of the corpus cavernosum, by the side 

 of the septum pectiniforme. It ramifies in the parenchyma of the 

 venous structure of the corpus cavernosum. 



The Dorsal artery of the penis ascends between the two crura and 

 symphysis pubis to the dorsum penis, and runs forward through the 

 suspensory ligament in the groove of the corpus cavernosum to the 

 glans, distributing branches in its course to the body of the organ 

 and to the integument. 



The Internal pudic artery in the female is smaller than in the 

 male ; its branches, with their distribution, are in principle the same. 

 The superficial perineal artery supplies the analogue of the lateral 

 half of the scrotum, viz. the greater labium. The artery of the bulb 

 supplies the meatus urinarius, and the vestibule ; the artery of the 

 corpus cavernosum, the cavernous body of the clitoris, and the arte- 

 ria dorsalis clitoridis, the dorsum of that organ. 



The UTERINE and VAGINAL arteries of the female are derived 

 cither from the internal iliac, or from the umbilical, internal pudic, 

 or ischiatic arteries. The former are very tortuous in their course, 

 and ascend between the layers of the broad ligament, to be distri- 

 buted to the uterus.' The latter ramify upon the exterior of the 

 vagina, and supply its mucous membrane. 



Branches of the posterior trunk. 



The llio-lumbar artery ascends beneath the external iliac vessels 

 and psoas muscle, to the posterior part of the crest of the ilium, 

 where it divides into two branches, a lumbar branch which supplies 

 the psoas and iliacus muscles, and sends a ramuscule through the 

 fifth intervertebral foramen to the spinal cord and its membranes ; 

 and an iliac branch which passes along the crest of the ilium dis- 

 tributing branches to the iliacus and abdominal muscles, and inos- 

 culating with the lumbar and gluteal arteries, and with the circum- 

 flexa ilii. 



The OBTURATOR ARTERY 'is exceedingly variable in point of 

 origin ; it generally proceeds from the posterior trunk of the internal 

 iliac artery, and passes forwards a little below the brim of the pelvis 

 to the upper border of the obturator foramen. It there escapes 

 from the pelvis through a tendinous arch formed by the obturator 

 membrane, and divides into two branches; an internal branch 

 which curves inwards around the bony margin of the obturator 

 foramen, between the obturator externus muscle and the ramus of 

 the ischium, and distributes branches to the obturator muscles, the 

 pectineus, the adductor muscles, and to the orgp,ns of generation, 



