Anatomy - Right-sided through-the-knee amputation in Fontaine stage IV peripheral arterial disease – Vascular Surgery

Origin

• Arises from the common iliac artery immediately inferior to the aortic bifurcation

Course

• Courses caudad over the superior border of the greater sciatic foramen.

Relation

• Posterior: internal iliac vein, pirirformis muscle, lumbosacral plexus
• Anterior: ureter
• Lateral: external iliac vein, psoas major
• Inferior: obturator nerve

Branches

Visceral branches:

• Umbilical arteries
• Inferior vesical artery
• Middle rectal artery
• In women: Uterine artery

Parietal branches:

• Iliolumbar artery
• Lateral sacral arteries
• Superior gluteal artery
• Inferior gluteal artery
• Obturator artery
• Internal pudendal artery

Arterial blood supply for

• Pelvic organs, gluteal muscles

Origin

• Arises from the common iliac artery immediately distal to the origin of the internal iliac artery

Course

• Courses along the major psoas muscle to the inguinal ligament, and after passing through the vascular compartment becomes the femoral artery

Relation

• The right external iliac artery courses posterior to the ureter
• The left ureter crosses somewhat lower anterior to the bifurcation of the external iliac artery

Branches

• The deep iliac circumflex artery courses to the superior iliac spine and joins the Iliolumbar artery and superior gluteal artery
• The inferior epigastric artery runs craniad medial to the deep inguinal ring and between the transverse abdominis and rectus abdominis muscles; other branches include the cremasteric artery and artery of round ligament of uterus 

Arterial blood supply for

• Iliac bone, inferior aspect of abdominal wall