THE VESSELS. 327 



art. uterina. c. Inferior, often from Art. hypogastrica ; at the base of the 

 bladder it also supplies the seminal vesicles. 



2. Art. uterina arises frequently from the hypogastric., passes transversely 

 inwards, curves from the external border ofcollum uteri into lig. latum, at 

 the sides of the uterus up to ihefundus, supplying with several anastomo- 

 sing branches the anterior and posterior surfaces of the uterus, and penetra- 

 ting into its substance. All these are very tortuous, and particularly deve- 

 loped during pregnancy. Branches: tubaria passes with three long 

 branches to the fimbrise and Fallopian tubes, giving off the proper ovarica, 



3. Art. vaginalis descends on the side of the uterus, supplies this with many 

 branches, also with a branch for the neck of the bladder, and terminates 

 in an arch between vagina and rectum. 



4. Art. defer entialis, generally from vesicalis inferior to the seminal vesicles 

 and vas deferens, and art. (vesico) prostatica to the pars prostatica urethra. 



5. Art. hcemorrhoidalis media, sometimes wanting, or arises from art. hypo- 

 gastr. and pudenda interna ; passes laterally on the anterior surface of the 

 rectum. 



2. Obturatoria. Origin: below the umbilicalis from the hypogastr., often 

 from iliaca externa (rarely from a. cruralis), and in common with a. epigas- 

 trica. Course: horizontally forwards, on the lateral wall of the entrance to 

 the pelvis, as far as and through (the superior angle of the) foram. ovale out 

 upon the thigh, where it divides into an external and internal branch. Posi- 

 tion: close under m. psoas, above nerv. obturator, behind the peritoneum. 



Lateral branches in the pelvis : 



a. Ram. iliacus passes forwards between fossa and m. iliacus ; anastomoses 

 with circumflexa ilei. 



b. Ram. pubicus arches behind the symphy. pubis. 



c. Ram. ascendens small, anastomoses with epigastrica. 

 Terminal branches outside the pelvis : 



d. Ram. interior s. internus, between m. obturat. extern, and os pubis, 

 arched on the inner half of foram. obturat. downwards and backwards; 

 it gives branches to mm. adductores ; to the scrotum (in the female to 

 labia externa) ; anastomoses with art. circumflex, interna. 



c. Ram. posterior s. externus, on the outer half of foram. obtur., terminates 

 between the neck of the femur and m. quadratus, by means of anasiomoses 

 with art. ischiadica ; it gives art. acetabuli (to the fat in the depth of the 

 acetabulum). 



578. Posterior branches of the hypogastrica : 



3. lleo-himbalis s. iliaca anterior. Origin : sometimes with art. glutaa 

 from the posterior wall, next to the origin of hypogastrica. Course : back- 

 wards and behind n. obturatorius, external and superior to the upper border 

 of the Sacrum; behind m. psoas; divides immediately into: 



a. Ram. lumbalis, which ascends along the bodies of the lumbar vertebras 



