396 



DISSECTION OF THE PELVIS. 



relations ; 



position of 

 vein ; 



branches. 



the several offsets are furnished. From the extremity a partly 

 obliterated vessel (hypogastric) extends forwards on the bladder. 



The artery is covered by the peritoneum, and the ureter crosses 

 its upper end obliquely on the inner side. It lies on the sacrum 

 and the lumbo-sacral cord. It is accompanied by the internal iliac 

 vein, which is posterior to it, and somewhat to its inner side. 



The branches of the artery are numerous, and arise usually in the 

 following manner : 



From the posterior division : 



1. Ilio-lumbar. 



2. Upper lateral sacral. 



3. Lower lateral sacral. 



4. Gluteal. 



Artery in 

 the foetus, 



on the 

 bladder, 



and beyond 



From the anterior division: 



1. Superior vesical. 



2. Inferior vesical (vaginal 



in the female). 



3. Obturator. 



4. Middle hsemorrhoidal. 



5. Uterine (in the female). 



6. Sciatic. 



7. Internal pudic. 



Artery in the foetus. In the foetus the hypogastrw artery takes 

 the place of the internal iliac, and leaves the abdomen by the 

 umbilicus. At that time it is larger than the external iliac artery ; 

 and, entering but slightly into the cavity of the pelvis, it is directed 

 forwards to the bladder, and along the side of that viscus to its 

 apex. 



Beyond the bladder the artery ascends along the posterior aspect 

 of the abdominal wall with the urachus, converging to its fellow. 

 Finally, at the umbilicus, the vessels of opposite sides come in con- 

 tact with the umbilical vein, and, passing from the abdomen 

 through the aperture at that spot, enter into the placental cord, 

 where they receive the name umbilical. 



In the foetus, branches similar to those in the adult are furnished 

 by the artery, though their relative size at the two periods is very 

 different. 



Change to adult state. When uterine life has ceased, the hypo- 

 gastric artery shrinks in consequence of the arrest of the current 

 of blood through it, and finally becomes obliterated, more or less 

 completely, to within an inch or so of its commencement. The 

 part of the trunk which is unobliterated becomes the internal iliac ; 

 and commonly a portion of the vessel remains pervious as far as the 

 bladder, forming the early part of the superior vesical artery. 



Trunk often Peculiarities. The length of the internal iliac artery varies from half an 

 varies in i ncn to three inches, its extreme measurements ; but in two-thirds of a large 



number of bodies it ranged from an inch to an inch and a half (R. Quain). 

 Size. In the rare cases where the femoral trunk is derived from the 



internal iliac, and is placed at the back of the thigh, this vessel is larger than 



the external iliac. 



branches. 



Transforma- 

 tion into 

 that of the 

 adult. 



length, 



rarely in 

 size. 



Branches of A - The BRANCHES arising from the posterior division of the 



theposterior internal iliac may be first examined. 



mo lumbar ^he ^o-lumbar artery (fig. 148, h) passes outwards beneath the 



has an 



