The document summarizes the major arteries of the lower abdomen and lower limbs, including the common iliac, internal iliac, external iliac, femoral, popliteal, anterior tibial arteries and their branches. It describes the origin, course, tributaries and key relationships of each artery. The internal iliac artery gives rise to parietal branches that supply muscles and bones, and visceral branches that supply reproductive organs and the rectum. The deep femoral artery is the main branch of the femoral artery and supplies the thigh.

1. THE COMMON ILIAC ARTERY, ARTERIA ILIACA
COMMUNIS
The abdominal aorta diverges at sharp angle
(60-70°) to give rise to the common iliac arteries.
Each artery descends laterally to reach the respective
sacroiliac joint. There, the arteries give rise to the
• external and
• internal iliac arteries.
ARTERIA ILIACA INTERNA
Relations of the internal iliac artery
The internal iliac artery arises from the common iliac
artery and descends to the lesser pelvis. The artery is
the principal nourishing vessel for this region. The
artery gives off numerous branches, both
Parietal
visceral.

2. 1. The parietal branches:
• arteria obturatoria reaches the thigh region
via the obturator canal. The artery supplies
the adductors of thigh and the hip joint. The
hip joint receives blood from the acetabular
branch, ramus acetabularis, which passes
within the ligament of head of femur. The
obturator artery anastomoses with the
inferior epigastric artery via the pubic
branch, ramus pubicus. In 25% of individ-
uals, this anastomosis is quite well
developed; in fact, the obturator artery in this
case arises from the inferior hypogastric
artery. This variant is of surgical concern be-
cause the artery passes next to the internal
femoral ring and thus can be damaged during
surgery (“corona mortis”);

4. • arteria iliolumbalis ascends
posteriorly to the related
muscles, the ilium and the
spinal cord (the spinal branches,
rami spinales);
• arteriae sacrales laterales run
to the sacrum and the spinal
cord (the spinal branches);

5. • arteria glutea superior leaves the
lesser pelvis cavity via the
suprapiriform foramen. Within the
gluteal region the artery gives off the
branches to supply the gluteus medius
and minimus;
• arteria glutea inferior leaves the
lesser pelvis cavity via the
infrapiriform foramen. Within the
gluteal region, the artery supplies the
gluteus maximus and other related
muscles.

7. 2. The visceral branches:
• arteria umbilicalis appears as
rather a large vessel during
embryonic period. After birth it
closes to form the medial
umbilical ligament (the occluded
part). The beginning of the artery
remains open (the patent part), it
gives off the arteriae vesicates
superiores;
• arteria vesicalis inferior
descends to the fundus of
bladder. In males, the artery gives
branches to the seminal glands
and prostate; in females — to the
vagina;

8. • arteria uterina descends on the lateral
wall of the pelvis, anterior to the internal
iliac artery, and enters the root of the
broad ligament. On reaching the side of
the cervix, the uterine artery divides into a
smaller descending vaginal branch, ramus
vaginalis, which supplies the cervix and
vagina, and a larger ascending branch,
ramus ascendens, which runs along the
lateral margin of the uterus, supplying the
body and fundus of the uterus. The
ascending branch bifurcates into ovarian
and tubal branches, ramus ovaricus et
tubarius, which continue within the broad
ligament to supply the medial ends of the
ovary and uterine tube and anastomose
with the ovarian and tubal branches of the
ovarian artery;

9. • arteria rectalis media may arise independently
from the internal iliac artery, or it may arise in
common with the inferior vesical artery or the
internal pudendal artery. The middle rectal artery
supplies the inferior part of the rectum, anas-
tomosing with the superior and inferior rectal
arteries, supplying the seminal glands and
prostate (or the vagina);
• Arteria pudenda interna passes infero-
laterally, anterior to the piriformis muscle and
sacral plexus. It leaves the pelvis between the
piriformis and the coccygeus muscles by passing
through the inferior part of the greater sciatic
foramen. The internal pudendal artery then
passes around the posterior aspect of the ischial
spine or the sacrospinous ligament and enters the
ischio-anal fossa through the lesser sciatic fo-
ramen.

10. • Within the ischio-anal fossa, the artery gives
the branches as follows:
a) arteria rectalis inferior passes to the anus;
b) arteria bulbi penis supplies the respective
bulb of penis;
c) arteria dorsalis penis (clitoridis) passes
below skin (to the penis or clitoris respectively);
d) arteria profunda penis (clitoridis) take the
same route as the latter arteries yet deeper;
e) arteria perinealis supplies the perineal
muscles and skin;
f) rami labiales posteriores and the rami
scrotales posteriores supply the respective
external genitals.

12. ARTERIA ILIACA EXTERNA
Relations of the external iliac
artery
The external iliac artery descends
on the medial aspect of the psoas
major and quits the lesser pelvis
via the vascular space. Within the
femoral triangle, the artery
becomes
continuous with the femoral
artery.

13. The external iliac artery gives the branches as
follows:
• arteria epigastrica inferior arises from the
main trunk above the inguinal ligament and
then ascends medially along the internal
surface of the anterior abdominal wall
occupying the lateral umbilical ligament.
Then the artery enters the rectus sheath and
ascends along its posterior surface to reach
the umbilical ring. Here it anastomoses with
the superior hypogastric artery. In the
beginning, the artery gives off anastomotic
branch (the pubic branch, ramus pubicus) to
the obturator artery;
• arteria circumflexa ilium profunda runs
laterally along the inguinal ligament and the
iliac crest. It supplies the iliacus and the
muscles of abdominal wall.

15. Relations of the femoral artery
The femoral artery arises directly from the
external iliac artery. The arteries are delimited
by the inferior border of the inguinal
ligament. On leaving the vascular space, the
artery appears within the femoral triangle
together with the femoral nerve (found laterally)
and the femoral vein (found medially).
Pulsation of the artery is palpable below the
inguinal ligament in the area related to the
vascular space. Within the femoral triangle, the
artery runs along the iliopectineal groove and
then along the femoral groove. From the femo-
ral groove, the artery proceeds to the adductor
canal, which leads it to the popliteal fossa.
Here it becomes continuous with the popliteal
artery.
THE FEMORALARTERY

16. The greatest branch of the femoral artery is the deep artery of thigh.
arteria profunda femoris is nearly as wide as the femoral artery
(5-7 mm). It arises 4-5 cm below the inguinal ligament and
descends posteriorly running laterally from the femoral artery. It is
the main artery, which supplies the thigh. Its shorter trunk splits
into the following branches:
•arteria circumflexa femoris medialis passes in between the il-
iopsoas and the pectineus muscles to enter deep into the adductors
of thigh. The artery gives off the deep, the ascending and the trans
verse branches, ramus profundus, ascendens et transversus. The
branches supply the muscles of thigh and the hip joint and
anastomose with the obturator and inferior gluteal arteries;
•arteria cicumflexa femoris lateralis gives off the ascending and
descending branches. The ascending branch anastomoses with the
gluteal arteries;
•arteriae perforantes rather wide, they penetrate the tendons of
the adductors and proceed to the posterior femoral area. There they
supply the related muscles and the femur. The arteries reach the
knee joint and anastomose with the branches of the popliteal artery.
The perforating arteries are important for collateral circulation.

17. Other branches
Apart from the deep artery of thigh, the femoral artery
gives some smaller arteries:
•arteria epigastrica superficialis arises below the
inguinal ligament and ascends to the umbilical region.
There it anastomoses with the superior epigastric
artery.
•arteria circumflexa ilium superficialis also arises
below the inguinal ligament and passes laterally to
reach the anterior superior iliac spine. The artery
supplies the neighboring soft tissues;
•arteriae pudendae externae (superficiales et
profundae) are small branches that supply the scrotum
(or the labia majores);
•arteria descendens genu arises within the adductor
canal. Together with the saphenous nerve, the artery
leaves the canal via the anterior opening and terminates
at the knee joint (it forms the genicular anastomosis).
THE FEMORALARTERY

18. THE POPLITEALARTERY, ARTERIA
POPLITEA
Relations of the popliteal artery
The popliteal artery is a direct
continuation of the femoral artery. It
occupies the popliteal fossa together with
the vein of the same name (it runs
laterally and posteriorly). Upon reaching
the leg region, the artery enters the
cruropopliteal canal and gives off its
two terminal branches — the
anterior tibial
posterior tibial arteries.
The branches of the popliteal artery

19. The popliteal artery gives off five genicular arteries:
arteriae superiores medialis et lateralis genu arise
above the femoral epicondyles. Each artery rounds the
respective epicondyle and passes to the anterior surface
of knee joint. Their branches form the genicular
anastomosis-,
arteria media genu penetrates the posterior wall of
the joint capsule of knee joint and terminates within the
cruciform ligaments;
arteriae inferiores medialis et lateralis genu arise
below the femoral epicondyles. Each artery rounds the
respective epicondyle and passes to the anterior surface
of knee joint. Their branches also form the genicular
anastomosis.
The genicular arteries supply the knee joint and
neighboring muscles. They form a wide anastomosis
around the knee joint — the genicular anastomosis,
rete articulare genu.

20. ARTERIA TIBIALIS ANTERIOR
Relations of the anterior tibial artery
The anterior tibial artery arises
from the popliteal artery within the
cruropopliteal canal. It quits the canal
via the anterior outlet (the opening in the
interosseous membrane) and descends to
the foot together with the deep fibular
nerve. Upon reaching the ankle joint, the
artery comes out from under the
extensors tendons. Then the artery
proceeds to the dorsal surface of foot to
become continuous with the dorsal
artery of foot.

21. The branches of the anterior tibial artery
Apart from numerous muscular branches, the
artery gives off other branches as follows:
•arteria recurrens tibialis posterior
becomes evident on the posterior surface of
leg; it ascends to join the genicular
anastomosis;
•arteria recurrens tibialis anterior arises
opposite to the latter artery. It also joins the
genicular anastomosis;
•arteriae malleolares anteriores (medialis
et lateralis) descend to the respective ankles.
They participate in formation of the medial
and lateral malleolar networks.

22. Relations of the dorsal artery of
foot
The dorsal artery of foot is a
direct continuation of the anterior
tibial artery. It runs between the
tendons of the extensor hallucis
longus and the extensor digitorum
longus. At the first intermetatarsal
space, the artery gives off its
terminal branches — the
deep plantar artery and the
first metatarsal artery.
ARTERIA DORSALIS
PEDIS

23. The branches of the dorsal artery of foot
The dorsal artery of foot also gives the following branches:
-arteriae tarsales laterales et mediates run to the respective
aspects of foot;
-arteria arcuata arises at the bases of metatarsals and runs
laterally to anastomose with the lateral tarsal artery. The arch
formed gives off the, arteriae metatarsals dorsales (2
through 5), which split into the arteriae digitales dorsales;
the first dorsal metatarsal artery arises directly from the
dorsal artery of foot. It gives off three dorsal digital arteries
to both aspects of the great toe and to the medial aspect of
the second toe;
-arteria plantaris profunda is the second terminal branch of
the dorsal artery of foot. It penetrates the muscles of the first
intermetatarsal space and proceeds to the plantar surface of
foot; there it anastomoses with the lateral plantar artery to
form the arcus plantaris profundus.

24. Relations of the posterior tibial
artery
The larger posterior tibial artery arises
immediately from the popliteal artery. The
artery occupies the cruropopliteal canal
together with the tibial nerve. Within the
canal, the artery runs along the deep muscles
of leg anterior to the soleus. The artery quits
the canal and passes medially from the
calcaneal tendon immediately below the skin
and fascia. Here, one can palpate pulsation of
the artery. The artery then rounds the medial
malleolus (in canalis maleolaris), passes under
the flexor retinaculum and eventually appears
on the plantar surface of foot. There it gives
the lateral and medial plantar arteries.
ARTERIA TIBIALIS POSTERIOR

25. The branches of posterior tibial artery
The artery gives numerous muscular branches all the way
down to the foot.
- arteria circumflexa fibulae becomes evident
on the posterior surface of leg; it ascends to join the
genicular anastomosis;
- At the ankle joint, the artery gives the rami
malleolaris mediates and rami calcanei.
- The greatest branch given is the fibular artery.
The fibular artery, arteria peronea is quite a large branch
that becomes evident in the upper portion of leg. The
artery runs laterally, along the fibula and below the flexor
hallucis longus. Then it descends to the calcaneus and
terminates at the calcaneal anastomosis, rete calcaneum.
At the lateral malleolus, the artery gives the ramus
malleolaris lateralis that joins the lateral malleolar
network. At the ankle joint, the artery gives off the per-
forating branch, ramus perforans that traverses the
interosseous membrane to anastomose with the branches
of the anterior tibial artery.

26. ARTERIAE PLANTARES
The posterior tibial artery gives rise to the lateral
and medial plantar arteries .
- arteria plantaris lateralis, larger one, it runs laterally to
reach the lateral plantar groove. On reaching the 5th
metatarsal bone, the artery declines medially and
anastomoses with the deep plantar artery to form the
arcus plantaris profundus. The arch gives off four
arteriae metatarsales plantares, which anastomose with
the dorsal arteries by means of the rami perforantes. The
plantar metatarsal arteries become continuous with the
arteriae digitales plantares communes, which in turn
split into the arteriae digitales plantares propriae. The
latter arteries run along the aspects of toes.
- arteria plantaris medialis is smaller than the lateral; it
runs along the medial plantar groove and reaches the base
of great toe to anastomose with the lateral plantar artery.
The plantar arch thus features anastomoses related to both
vertical and horizontal planes.