622 THE ARTERIES. 



of the opposite vesical arteries ; of the haemorrhoidal branches of the internal iliac with 

 those from the inferior mesenteric; of the obturator artery, by means of its pubic branch, 

 with the vessel of the opposite side and with the epigastric and internal circumflex ; of the 

 circumflex and perforating branches of the profunda femoris with the sciatic ; of the gluteal 

 with the posterior branches of the sacral arteries; of the ilio-lumbar with the last lumbar; of 

 the lateral sacral with the middle sacral ; and of the circumflex iliac with the ilio-lumbar and 

 gluteal. 



BRANCHES OF THE INTERNAL ILIAC. 



From the Anterior Trunk. From the Posterior Trunk. 



Superior Vesical. Ilio-lumbar. 



Middle Vesical. Lateral Sacral. 



Inferior Vesical. Gluteal. 



Middle Hsemorrhoidal. 

 Obturator. 

 Internal Pudic. 

 Sciatic. 



T j. 7 f Uterine. 

 In female ^^ 



The superior vesical is that part of the foetal hypogastric artery which remains 

 pervious after birth. It extends to the side of the bladder, distributing numerous 

 branches to the apex and body of the organ. From one of these a slender vessel 

 is derived which accompanies the vas deferens in its course to the testis, where it 

 anastomoses with the spermatic artery. This is the artery of the vas deferens. 

 Other branches supply the ureter. 



The middle vesical, usually a branch of the superior, is distributed to the base 

 of the bladder and under surface of the vesiculse seminales. 



The inferior vesical arises from the anterior division of the internal iliac, 

 frequently in common with the middle haemorrhoidal, and is distributed to the 

 base of the bladder, the prostate gland, and vesiculse seminales. The branches 

 distributed to the prostate communicate with the corresponding vessel of the 

 opposite side. 



The middle hsemorrhoidal artery usually arises together with the preceding 

 vessel. It supplies the rectum, anastomosing with the other hsemorrhoidal 

 arteries. 



The uterine artery passes inward from the anterior trunk of the internal 

 iliac to the neck of the uterus. Ascending, in a tortuous course on the side of 

 this viscus, between the layers of the broad ligament, it distributes branches 

 to its substance, anastomosing, near its termination, with a branch from the 

 ovarian artery. Branches from this vessel are also distributed to the bladder and 

 ureter. 



The vaginal artery is analogous to the inferior vesical in the male ; it descends 

 upon the vagina, supplying its mucous membrane, and sending branches to the 

 neck of the bladder and contiguous part of the rectum. 



The Obturator Artery usually arises from the anterior trunk of the internal 

 iliac, frequently from the posterior. It passes forward, below the brim of the 

 pelvis, to the upper part of the obturator foramen, and, escaping from the pelvic 

 cavity through a short canal formed by a groove on the under surface of the 

 horizontal ramus of the os pubis and the arched border of the obturator mem- 

 brane, it divides into an internal and external branch. In the pelvic cavity this 

 vessel lies upon the pelvic fascia, beneath the peritoneum, and a little below the 

 obturator nerve. 



Branches. Within the pelvis, the obturator artery gives off an iliac branch to 

 the iliac fossa, which supplies the bone and the Iliacus muscle, and anastomoses 

 with, the ilio-lumbar artery ; a vesical branch, which runs backward to supply the 

 bladder; and a pubic branch, which is given off from the vessel just before it 

 leaves the pelvic cavity. This branch ascends upon the back of the os pubis, 



