471- THE ARTEKIES OF THE ABDOMEN. 



sionally happens that one of the latter offsets is much enlarged, and replaces one or 

 more branches of a defective pudic artery, as will be more fully noticed in the 

 description of that vessel. 



One slender but constant branch, the artery of the vas defer ens (vi), arising from 

 either the superior or inferior vesical artery, sends one or more twigs downwards to 

 the lower part of the vas deferens and the vesicula seminalis, and is then continued 

 forwards along the vas deferens, in company with which it descends in the spermatic 

 cord as far as the testicle, where it anastomoses with the spermatic artery. This 

 branch may reinforce or even replace the last-mentioned vessel. 



Besides the superior and inferior vesical arteries, other small offsets are frequently 

 furnished to the bladder from the obturator, sciatic, or other branches of the 

 internal iliac artery. 



The vaginal artery (v) (vesico-vaginal) in the female corresponds to the 

 inferior vesical artery in the male. Arising from the anterior division of the 



Fig. 379. THE VISCERA OF THE MALE PELVIS FROM THE LEFT SIDE, SHOWING THE VESICAL AND 

 PUDIC ARTERIES. (R. Quain.) 



a, os pubis, divided a little to the left of the symphysis ; &, the upper part of the bladder, upon 

 which lies the vas deferens ; c, the upper part of the rectum, near the left ureter ; c r , at the junction 

 of the middle and lower parts of the rectum, points to the vesicula seminalis ; c", anus ; d, bulb of the 

 corpus spongiosum ; e, crus penis divided ; /, small sacro-sciatic ligament, attached to the spine of the 

 ischium ; 1, common iliac artery ; 2, internal iliac artery ; 3, gluteal artery, cut short ; 4, common 

 trunk of the sciatic and pudic arteries ; 4', sciatic artery, cut as it is passing out of the great sacro- 

 sciatic foramen ; 5, on the divided surface of the ischial spine, points to the pudic artery as it is about 

 to enter the perineum by the small sacro-sciatic foramen ; 5', superficial perineal branch of pudic ; 

 5", pudic artery, giving off the artery of the bulb, and dividing at 6, into the artery of the corpus 

 cavernosum and the dorsal artery of the penis ; 7, on the middle part of the rectum, points to the 

 superior hsemorrhoidal artery ; 8, 8, ramifications of the superior vesical artery ; 9. inferior vesical 

 artery, of considerable size in this instance, giving branches to the bladder, the vesicula seminalis, the 

 rectum (middle hsemorrhoidal), and 9', to the prostate gland. 



internal iliac, or frequently from the uterine artery, it descends and ramifies upon 

 the vagina, sending at the same time offsets to the lower part of the bladder, to the 

 bulb of the vestibule, and to the contiguous part of the rectum. It anastomoses 

 behind the vagina with the corresponding artery of the opposite side. 



3. The middle hsemorrhoidal artery (v) is frequently derived from the 

 inferior vesical or the internal pudic artery. It ramifies on the lower part of the 

 rectum, and anastomoses with the other haemorrhoidal and the [inferior vesical 

 arteries. 



