The
external iliacThe ilium is the uppermost and largest bone of the pelvis, and appears in most vertebrates including mammals and birds, but not bony fish. All reptiles have an ilium except snakes, although some snake species have a tiny bone which is considered to be an ilium.The name comes from the Latin,...
arteryArteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. All arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary and umbilical arteries, carry oxygenated blood.The circulatory system is extremely important for sustaining life...
is a large artery in the pelvic region that carries blood to the
lower limbThe lower limb is a limb of the body.According to Terminologia Anatomica, it includes the pelvic girdle, buttocks, hip, and thigh, as well as the components distal to the knee.-References:...
.
The external iliac artery is a paired artery, meaning there is one on each side of the body: a
right external iliac artery and
left external iliac artery.
The external iliac artery is accompanied by the
external iliac veinThe external iliac veins are large veins that connect the femoral veins to the common iliac veins. Their origin is at the inferior margin of the inguinal ligaments and they terminate when they join the internal iliac veins ....
, which is located posterior to the artery.
The external iliac artery arises from the bifurcation of the
common iliac arteryThe common iliac arteries are two large arteries, about 4cm long in adults but more than a centimetre in diameter, that originate from the aortic bifurcation. The arteries run inferolaterally, along the medial border of the psoas muscles to the pelvic brim, where they bifurcate into the external...
.
The
external iliacThe ilium is the uppermost and largest bone of the pelvis, and appears in most vertebrates including mammals and birds, but not bony fish. All reptiles have an ilium except snakes, although some snake species have a tiny bone which is considered to be an ilium.The name comes from the Latin,...
arteryArteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. All arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary and umbilical arteries, carry oxygenated blood.The circulatory system is extremely important for sustaining life...
is a large artery in the pelvic region that carries blood to the
lower limbThe lower limb is a limb of the body.According to Terminologia Anatomica, it includes the pelvic girdle, buttocks, hip, and thigh, as well as the components distal to the knee.-References:...
.
The external iliac artery is a paired artery, meaning there is one on each side of the body: a
right external iliac artery and
left external iliac artery.
The external iliac artery is accompanied by the
external iliac veinThe external iliac veins are large veins that connect the femoral veins to the common iliac veins. Their origin is at the inferior margin of the inguinal ligaments and they terminate when they join the internal iliac veins ....
, which is located posterior to the artery.
Source
The external iliac artery arises from the bifurcation of the
common iliac arteryThe common iliac arteries are two large arteries, about 4cm long in adults but more than a centimetre in diameter, that originate from the aortic bifurcation. The arteries run inferolaterally, along the medial border of the psoas muscles to the pelvic brim, where they bifurcate into the external...
. It travels inferiorly, anteriorly, and laterally, making its ways to the lower limb:
Branches
| Branch |
Description
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| Inferior epigastric arteryIn human anatomy, inferior epigastric artery refers to the artery that arises from the external iliac artery and anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery...
|
superior epigastric artery In human anatomy, superior epigastric artery refers to a blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood and arises from the internal thoracic artery...
(a branch of internal thoracic arteryIn human anatomy, the internal thoracic artery , previously known as the internal mammary artery , is an artery that supplies the anterior chest wall and the breasts...
).
>-
| Deep circumflex iliac arteryThe deep circumflex iliac artery is an artery in the pelvis that travels along the iliac crest of the pelvic bone.-Course:...
|
|
>-
| femoral arteryThe femoral artery is a large artery in the muscles of the thigh. It is a continuation of external iliac artery where it enters the femoral triangle at the mid inguinal point behind the inguinal ligament. It leaves femoral triangle through apex beneath the sartorius muscle...
Terminal branch. When the external iliac artery passes posterior to the inguinal ligament The inguinal ligament is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. Its anatomy is very important for operating on hernia patients.-Anatomy:...
, its name changes to femoral arteryThe femoral artery is a large artery in the muscles of the thigh. It is a continuation of external iliac artery where it enters the femoral triangle at the mid inguinal point behind the inguinal ligament. It leaves femoral triangle through apex beneath the sartorius muscle...
. |
External links
- "The arteries of the lower extremity" - "The veins of the lower extremity, abdomen, and pelvis" - "The Female Pelvis: The External and Internal Iliac Vessels" - "Sagittal view of the internal iliac artery and its branches in the female pelvis. "