THE OBTURATOR ARTERY. 



475 



4. The uterine artery (v) is directed inwards from the anterior division of the 

 internal iliac towards the neck of the uterus. Insinuating itself between the layers 

 of the broad ligament, it passes upwards on the side of the uterus, pursuing an 

 exceedingly tortuous course, and sends off numerous branches, which ramify on the 

 anterior and posterior surfaces and in the substance of that organ. Near its 

 termination it is joined by a branch of the ovarian artery, forming an arch from 

 which offsets proceed to the Fallopian tube and the round ligament of the uterus. 

 During pregnancy the uterine artery becomes much enlarged. 



5. The obturator artery (iv), while it usually arises from the antejio_r division 

 of the internal iliac, is not unfrequently derived from the posterior division of that 

 vessel. It is directed downwards and forwards a little below the ilio-pectineal line, 

 resting upon the obturator portion of the pelvic fascia, and covered by the 

 peritoneum. The obturator nerve is a little way above, and the companion vein is 



Fig. 380. THE ARTERIES OP THE FEMALE PELVIS, AS SEEN ON THE REMOVAL OF THE LEFT 

 HIP-BONE, &c. (R. Quain.) 



a, auricular surface of sacrum ; 6, spine of ischium with the small sacro-sciatic ligament ; c, os 

 pubis, divided a little to the left of the symphysis ; d, on the sigmoid part of the colon, and d', on the 

 lower part of the bladder, point to the ureter ; e, on the upper part of the body of the uterus, points to 

 the ovary ; f, on the upper part of the bladder, points to the Fallopian tube ; /', round ligament of 

 uterus ; 1, external iliac artery, cut short ; 2, internal iliac artery ; 3, gluteal artery, cut short ; 

 4, 4, left pudic artery, from which a part has been removed ; 4', the same artery in the perineum, and 

 4", its last part, dividing into the dorsal and deep arteries of the clitoris ; 5, on the sacral nerves, points 

 to the sciatic artery ; 6, vaginal artery, giving off branches to the bladder 6', and to the rectum 6" ; 

 7, uterine artery ; 8, superior vesical, and 8', obliterated hypogastric artery ; 9, 9, ovarian artery, 

 descending from the aorta ; 10, superior hsemorrhoidal artery, spreading over the side of the rectum. 



below the artery. Eeaching the upper part of the thyroid foramen, it passes 

 through a short canal formed by the obturator groove on the under surface of the 

 superior ramus of the pubis and the arched border of the obturator fascia (p. 339), 

 and divides immediately into internal and external terminal branches, which 

 descend on the surface of the obturator membrane, beneath the obturator externus 

 muscle. 



Branches. (a) Within the pelvis, besides other small muscular offsets, and 

 sometimes a branch to the urinary bladder, the obturator artery furnishes an iliac 



