External iliac artery
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
The external iliac artery is a large artery in the pelvic region that carries blood to the lower limb.
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 arises from the bifurcation of the common iliac artery. It travels inferiorly, anteriorly, and laterally, making its ways to the lower limb:
| Branch | Description |
| Inferior epigastric artery | Goes upward to anastomose with superior epigastric artery (a branch of internal thoracic artery). |
| Deep circumflex iliac artery | Goes laterally, travelling along the iliac crest of the pelvic bone. |
| femoral artery | Terminal branch. When the external iliac artery passes posterior to the inguinal ligament, its name changes to femoral artery. |
The external iliac artery is accompanied by the external iliac vein, which is located posterior to the artery.
Additional images
Additional images
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The internal mammary artery and its branches. -
Dissection of side wall of pelvis showing sacral and pudendal plexuses. -
Sacral plexus of the right side. -
Posterior view of the anterior abdominal wall in its lower half. The peritoneum is in place, and the various cords are shining through. -
The spermatic cord in the inguinal canal. -
Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for arteries and inguinal canal.
External links
External links
- Template:GraySubject – “The arteries of the lower extremity”
- Template:GraySubject – “The veins of the lower extremity, abdomen, and pelvis”
- Template:SUNYAnatomyLabs – “The Female Pelvis: The External and Internal Iliac Vessels”
- Template:SUNYAnatomyFigs – “Sagittal view of the internal iliac artery and its branches in the female pelvis. “
- Template:SUNYAnatomyImage
- Template:NormanAnatomy (Template:NormanAnatomyFig)
- Hypogastric artery – thefreedictionary.com
Template:Arteries of thorax and abdomen Template:Arteries of lower limbs
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