432 ARTERIES. 



BRANCHES OF THE INTERNAL ILIAC. 



From the Anterior Trunk. From the Posterior Trunk. 

 Superior vesical. Gluteal. 



Middle vesical. Ilio-lumbar. 



Inferior vesical. Lateral sacral. 



Middle hemorrhoidal. 



r /. 7 ( Uterine. 

 In female. < -r T . , 

 ( Vaginal. 



Obturator. 

 Internal pudic. 

 Sciatic. 



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 body and fundus of this 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 vesiculae seminales. 



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

 common with the middle hemorrhoidal, and is distributed to the base of the bladder, 

 the prostate gland, and vesiculce seminales. Those branches distributed to the 

 prostate communicate with the corresponding vessel of the opposite side. 



The middle hemorrhoidal artery usually arises together with the preceding 

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

 arteries. 



The uterine artery passes downwards from the anterio'r 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 forwards below the brim of the 

 pelvis, to the canal in the upper border of the obturator foramen, and, escaping 

 from the pelvic cavity through this aperture, divides into an internal and an 

 external branch. In the pelvic cavity, this vessel lies upon the pelvic fascia, 

 beneath the peritoneum, and a little below the obturator nerve; and, whilst 

 passing through the obturator foramen, is contained in an oblique canal, formed 

 by the horizontal branch of the pubes, above; and the arched border of the 

 obturator membrane, below. 



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 backwards to supply 

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

 leaves the pelvic cavity. This branch ascends upon the back of the pubes, com- 

 municating with offsets from the epigastric artery, and with the corresponding 

 vessel of the opposite side. This branch is placed on the inner side of the femoral 

 ring. External to the pelvis, the obturator artery divides into an external and 

 an internal branch, which are deeply situated beneath the Obturator externus 

 muscle ; skirting the circumference of the obturator foramen, they anastomose at 

 the lower part of this aperture with each other, and with branches of the internal 

 circumflex artery. 



