Anterior Division of Internal Iliac Artery

Origin

The anterior division originates from the internal iliac artery.

Course

The anterior division of the internal iliac artery travels posteroinferiorly along the internal surface of the pelvic wall.

Branches

There are up to eight branches of the anterior division of the iliac artery. However, there is a huge level of variation in the branching pattern of these vessels (Tubbs et al., 2016).

As the anterior division travels inferiorly and posteriorly, it gives off the obturator and umbilical artery.

The vaginal, inferior vesical, middle rectal, and uterine arteries arise directly or indirectly from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery.

The terminal bifurcation of the anterior division yields the internal pudendal and inferior gluteal arteries.

Supplied Structures

The umbilical artery contributes to the supply of the lower urinary system via the superior vesical artery.

The obturator artery contributes to the supply of deep structures of the pelvis (obturator foramen and hip joint) and medial thigh.

The vaginal and uterine arteries supply the majority of the female reproductive tract, and the internal pudendal artery supplies the perineum. In females, the vaginal artery gives rise to the inferior vesical artery to supply the lower portion of the urinary bladder, while in males, the inferior vesical artery arises directly from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery.

The inferior gluteal artery contributes to the supply of the gluteal region.

References

Tubbs, R. S., Shoja, M. M. and Loukas, M. (2016) Bergman's Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation. Wiley.