470 



THE ARTERIES OF THE ABDOMEN. 



The common iliac arteries measure generally about two inches in length. Both 

 are covered by the peritoneum and the small intestine, and are crossed by the 

 branches of the sympathetic nerve which pass from the aortic to the hypogastric 

 plexus, as well as usually by the ureter near their point cf division ; the artery of 

 the left side is crossed also by the superior haemorrhoidal vessels. The left common 

 iliac artery lies close to the inner border of the psoas muscle, and rests upon the 

 bodies of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae ; the right artery is separated for 

 the most part from these bones by the two common iliac veins, and touches the 

 psoas muscle only at its lower end. 



Relation to veins. The left common iliac vein lies to the inner side of and below 

 the left artery. On the right side there are three veins in proximity to the artery ; 



Fig. 377. THE RIGHT SIDE UK A 



MALE PELVIS, SHOWING THE ILIAC 

 ARTERIES AND THEIR BRANCHES. 



(Allen Thomson.) -J 



The viscera of the pelvis have 

 been removed, as well as the internal 

 iliac veins ; the larger nerves have 

 been left : a, body of fifth lumbar 

 vertebra ; b, anterior superior spine 

 of ilium ; c, left auricular surface of 

 sacrum ; c', third piece of sacrum ; 

 d, first piece of coccyx : e, small 

 sacro-sciatic ligament ; /, tuberosity 

 of ischium, covered internally by the 

 great sacro-sciatic ligament ; g, ob- 

 turator canal ; i, iliacus muscle ; 1, 

 abdominal aorta ; 1', middle sacral 

 artery ; 2, 2, common iliac arteries ; 

 2', right external iliac ; 3, inferior 

 vena cava ; 4, 4, common iliac veins ; 

 the number on the right points by 

 a line to the right internal iliac 

 artery ; 4', right external iliac vein ; 

 5, placed on the lumbo-sacral nervous 

 trunk, points to the posterior division 

 of the internal iliac artery continued 

 into the gluteal ; 5', ilio-lumbar ar- 

 tery ; 5", lateral sacral artery, with 

 branches passing into the anterior 

 sacral foramina ; 6, placed on the 

 anterior division of the first sacral 

 nerve, points to the sciatic artery 

 coming from the anterior division of 

 the internal iliac ; 7, pudic artery ; 



7', the same artery passing behind the spine of the ischium, and proceeding forwards on the inner side 

 of the obturator internus muscle, accompanied by the pudic nerve, and giving off, near /, inferior 

 htemorrhoidal branches ; 7", superficial perineal artery and nerve ; 8, obliterated hypogastric artery, 

 cut short, and 8', superior vesical branches arising from it ; 9, obturator artery with the corresponding 

 nerve and vein ; 9', pubic twigs which anastomose with the pubic branch of the epigastric artery ; 

 10, inferior vesical ; 11, middle hsemorrhoidal artery, arising in this instance from the pudic ; 12, 

 epigastric artery, winding to the inner side of -f, + , the vas deferens and spermatic cord; 13, 

 circumflex iliac artery ; 14, spermatic artery and vein divided superiorly ; 15, twigs of ilio-lumbar 

 artery anastomosing with the circumflex iliac. 



the right common iliac vein lying behind the lower part of the vessel, the left common 

 iliac vein crossing behind it above its middle, and the inferior vena cava, resulting 

 from the union of the two others, being on the right side of the artery at its upper 

 end. 



The common iliac artery usually does not furnish any named collateral branches. 

 A few minute twigs are given to the psoas muscle, to the ureter, and to the 

 neighbouring lymphatic glands. 



