320 OBTURATOR ARTERY. 



resting on the transversus perinei muscle, and is named the transversalis 

 perinei. 



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

 opening for the transmission of the urethra ; it passes almost 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 sym- 

 physispubis 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 su- 

 perficial 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 arteria dorsalis clitoridis, the 

 dorsum of that organ. 



The UTERINE and VAGINAL arteries of the female are derived either 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 distributed to the uterus. The lattei 

 ramify upon the exterior of the vagina, and supply its mucous membrane. 



Branches of the Posterior Trunk. 



The ILIO-LUMBAR ARTERY ascends beneath the external iliac vessels and 

 psoas muscle, to the posterior part of the crest of the ilium ; where it di- 

 vides into two branches, a lumbar branch which supplies the psoas and 

 iliacus muscles, and sends a ramuscule through the fifth intervertebral fo- 

 ramen to the spinal cord and its membranes ; and an iliac branch which 

 passes along the crest of the ilium, distributing branches to the iliacus and 

 abdominal muscles, and inosculating with the lumbar and gluteal arteries, 

 and with the circumflexa 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 ten- 

 dinous arcK 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 tne ramus of the ischium, and distributes branches to the obturator 

 muscles, the pectineus, the adductor muscles, and to the organs of gene- 

 ration, and inosculates with the internal circumflex artery; and an external 

 branch which pursues its course along the outer margin of the obturator 

 foramen to the space between the gemellus inferior and quadratus femoris, 

 where it inosculates with the ischiatic artery. In its course backwards it 



