Human Anatomy, Part 2 - K. A. Diubenko, A. K. Kolomiitsev, Yu. B. Chaikovsky 2008

Special Part
Cardiovascular System (systema cardiovasculare) - Special Part
Blood Vessels of the Systemic Circulation - Arteries of the Lower Limb - External Iliac Artery

The external iliac artery, a. iliaca externa (Fig. 51), is the direct continuation of the common iliac artery and serves as the main arterial trunk for the lower limb. The artery runs obliquely downwards, laterally, and forwards along the medial border of the psoas major Muscle (m. psoas major). Reaching the inguinal ligament (lig. inguinale), the external iliac artery passes beneath it through the vascular lacuna (lacuna vasorum) onto the anteromedial surface of the thigh, where it becomes the femoral artery (a. femoralis).

Branches of the external iliac artery:

1. A. epigastrica inferior;

2. A. cremasterica;

3. A. circumflexa ilium profunda.

The inferior epigastric artery, a. epigastrica inferior (see Fig. 33), originates from the external iliac artery (a. iliaca externa) 1.5 cm above the inguinal ligament (lig. inguinale). It runs deep to the parietal Peritoneum, medial to the deep inguinal ring, where it crosses the Spermatic Cord. Near its origin, the inferior epigastric gives off the pubic branch (r. pubicus), which anastomoses with the corresponding branch of the obturator artery. The inferior epigastric artery then pierces the transversalis fascia (fascia transversalis), ascends along the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle, and reaches the umbilicus to anastomose with branches of the superior epigastric artery (a. epigastrica superior). It supplies the rectus abdominis muscle and anastomoses with lumbar and lower intercostal Arteries.

The cremasteric artery, a. cremasterica, originates from the inferior epigastric artery, pierces the posterior wall of the Inguinal Canal, and accompanies the spermatic cord (funiculus spermaticus). It supplies the coverings of the spermatic cord and Testis in males, and the round ligament of the Uterus, mons pubis, and Labia Majora in females.

The deep circumflex iliac artery, a. circumflexa ilium profunda, arises from the external iliac artery above the inguinal ligament (lig. inguinale), runs along the iliac crest (crista iliaca), supplies the transversus abdominis and internal oblique Abdominal Muscles, and anastomoses with branches of the iliolumbar artery (a. ileolumbalis).