OBTURATOR ARTERY. 423 



offsets to the lower parb of the bladder over the neck, and others to the 

 contiguous part of the rectum. 



Fig. 290. 



Fig. 290. VIEW OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARTERIES TO THE VISCERA OF THE FEMALE 



PELVIS, AS SEEN ON THE REMOVAL OF THE LEFP Os INNOMINATU5I, &C. (from R. 



Quaiii). i 



a, the left auricular surface of the sacrum ; J, the spine of the ischium with the short 

 sacro-sciatic ligament ; c, the os pubis cut a little to the left of the symphysis ; d, placet! 

 upon the sigmoid part of the colon, and d' on the lower part of the urinary bladder, point 

 to the ureter ; e , on the upper part of the body of the uterus, points by a line to the left 

 ovary ; f, on the upper part of the bladder, points to the left Fallopian tube ; f, round 

 ligament of the uterus ; 1, left external iliac artery cut short ; 2, left internal iliac 

 artery ; 3, gluteal artery cut short ; 4, 4, left pudic artery from which a part has been 

 removed; 4', the same artery after it has re-entered the pelvis proceeding towards the 

 muscles of the perineum, clitoris, &c. ; 5, placed on the sacral nerves, points to the sciatic 

 artery ; 6, 6', inferior vesical and vaginal arteries ; 6", branches from these to the rectum ; 

 7, uterine artery much coiled ; 8, the superior vesical, and 8', the remains of the hypo- 

 gastric artery ; 9, 9, the left ovarian artery, descending from the aorta, and emerging 

 from below the peritoneum ; 10, the superior hsemorrhoidal artery spreading over the left 

 side of the rectum. 



III. OBTURATOR, ARTERY. 



The obturator artery is in most instances derive! from the internal iliac ; 

 it usually arises from the anterior portion of that vessel, but not unfre- 

 quently from its posterior division. The artery is directed forwards along 

 the inside of the pelvis to reach the groove at the upper part of the thyroid 

 foramen. By this aperture it passes out of the pelvis, and immediately 

 divides into its terminal branches. In its course through the pelvis, the 

 artery is placed between the pelvic fascia and the peritoneum, a little below 

 the obturator nerve. Beneath the pubes it lies with its accompanying vein 

 and nerve in an oblique canal, formed partly by a groove in the bone, and 

 partly by fibrous tissue, after passing through which it divides immediately 



