6oo ABDOMEN 



This is usually of larger size than any of the superior vesical 

 branches. It crosses in front of the ureter and over or under 

 the angular bend of the deferent duct to reach the base of 

 the bladder, where it ramifies, sending twigs to the bladder, 

 the seminal vesicle, the ductus deferens, and the prostate. It 

 frequently gives off the artery to the deferent duct. 



Arteria Hsemorrhoidalis Media (Middle Hsemorrhoidal) may 

 arise independently or in common with the inferior vesical, 

 and it may pass in front of the lower part of the ureter or 

 behind it. It is distributed mainly to the muscular coat of 

 the rectum, where it anastomoses with the superior and inferior 

 haemorrhoidal vessels. It supplies twigs also to the prostate, 

 the deferent ducts, the seminal vesicles, and the bladder. 



Arteria Obturatoria (Obturator Artery). The obturator 

 artery runs forwards on the inner aspect of the pelvic wall 

 to the upper margin of the obturator foramen, where it 

 enters the obturator canal. In the pelvis it lies in the extra- 

 peritoneal fat below the obturator nerve and above the vein. 

 It gives some small iliac branches to the iliac fossa, and a pubic 

 branch which ascends behind the pubis to anastomose with the 

 pubic branch of the inferior epigastric artery. This anasto- 

 mosis may become converted into either the commencement 

 of the obturator which then arises from the inferior epigastric, 

 or the commencement of the inferior epigastric which then 

 arises from the obturator, and, in either case, it may pass to 

 the medial side or to the lateral side of the femoral ring ; 

 thus it attains a close relationship with a femoral hernia. 



Arteria Pudenda Interna (O.T. Internal Pudic Artery). 

 In the pelvic part of its course the internal pudendal 

 artery proceeds downwards in front of the piriformis muscle 

 and the sacral nerves. It leaves the pelvis by passing 

 between the piriformis and the coccygeus muscles, and 

 through the lower part of the great sciatic foramen. 



Arteria Glutsea Inferior (O.T. Sciatic Artery). The 

 inferior glutasal artery is usually the largest branch given off 

 by the anterior division of the hypogastric artery, and, as a 

 rule, it lies behind the internal pudendal. It passes down in 

 front of the piriformis muscle and the sacral plexus, and 

 frequently through one of the loops of the plexus. It leaves 

 the pelvis by passing between the piriformis and coccygeus 

 muscles and through the lower part of the great sciatic 

 foramen (Fig. 85). 



