Common iliac artery

Common iliac artery

Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for arteries and inguinal canal.

Bifurcation of the aorta and the right common iliac artery - side view. Hypogastric artery is an old term for internal iliac artery. (Com. iliac. a. is visible at center bottom left.)
Details
Source abdominal aorta
Branches external iliac
internal iliac
Vein common iliac veins
Identifiers
Latin arteria iliaca communis
Dorlands
/Elsevier
a_61/12154545
TA A12.2.14.001
FMA 14764

Anatomical terminology

The common iliac arteries are two large arteries that originate from the aortic bifurcation at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. They end in front of the sacroiliac joint, one on either side, and each bifurcates into the external and internal iliac arteries.

They are about 4 cm long in adults and more than a centimeter in diameter. The arteries run inferolaterally, along the medial border of the psoas muscles to their bifurcation at the pelvic brim, in front of the sacroiliac joints.

The common iliac artery, and all of its branches, exist as paired structures (that is to say, there is one on the left side and one on the right).

The distribution of the common iliac artery is basically the pelvis and lower limb (as the femoral artery) on the corresponding side.

Relations

Both common iliac arteries are accompanied along their course by the two common iliac veins which lie posteriorly and to the right. Their terminal bifurcation is crossed anteriorly by the ureters.

Additional images

External links


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 18, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.