INTERNAL ILIAC ARTERY. 409 



on a level with, or before it, and they may both arise in common. 

 The spermatic, their diameter considered, are the longest arteries 

 in the body ; they pursue a diverging course through the 

 inguinal canal, and become a constituent of the spermatic cord, 

 lying on its anterior border ; as they near the testicle they 

 become extremely tortuous, and are finally distributed in the 

 tunica vasculosa. 



The TJtero- OVARIAN artery passes to the broad ligament of the 

 uterus, dividing into ovarian and xiterine branches. The former 

 is tortuous, supplying the ovary ; the latter passes to the cornu 

 of the uterus, anastomosing with the uterine artery. 



The Small testicular, or Artery of the cord, is small, 

 and sometimes arises from the aorta, between the internal and 

 external iliac arteries, or it may arise from the latter, far down. 

 It passes through the inguinal canal, and supplies the tissues of 

 the cord, first giving twigs to the ureter, vas deferens, and peri- 

 toneum. In the female, this artery becomes the Uterine, which 

 is much larger, and is distributed to the body and cornu of the 

 uterus, anastomosing with the utero-ovarian and vaginal arteries. 



The posterior aorta at the level of the last lumbar vertebra 

 gives off the External Iliac arteries, and a little posterior to this 

 the rest of its trunk bifurcates, forming the Internal Iliac arteries. 

 These four vessels are all large, and their origins are so near 

 together that the breaking up of the aorta has been termed the 

 iliac quadrifur cation. 



internal iliac artery. 



(Fig. 157. BB. ; Fig. 158. CC.) 

 The internal iliac arteries are short, thick trunks, extending 

 from the last lumbar vertebra to near the insertion of the psoas 

 parvus. They suppl}' the pelvic viscera, and partially the 

 muscles of the hind quarter. Each of these trunks gives off the 

 folio win Of arteries : — 



IJmbilical, 

 Internal pudic. 

 Ilio-lumbar. | 



Iliaco-femoral. 



Obturator, 



Gluteal. 



Lateral sacral. 

 The Umbilical artery, large in the foetus, is a mere fibrous 



