2. General principles...
• The pelvic vessels play an important role in pelvic
support.
• There is significant anatomic variation between
individuals in the branching pattern of the internal
iliac vessels.
3. General principles...
• The pelvic vasculature is a high-volume, high-flow
system with enormous expansive capabilities
throughout reproductive life.
• The pelvic vasculature is supplied with an extensive
network of collateral connections that provides a rich
anastomotic communication between different major
vessel systems.
5. Veins...
• In general the venous system draining the pelvis
closely follows the arterial supply and is named
accordingly.
6. Iliac artery...
• The common
Iliac artery bifurcate
Into external and
internal iliac artery
at the level of
Lumbosacral joint.
7. • It is the principal
artery of the
Pelvis, supplies
Most of the
blood to pelvic
viscera and
some to Msk.
Part of pelvis.
Internal iliac artery...
8. Internal iliac artery...
• Each internal Iliac artery is~4cm Long.
• The ureter crosses the common iliac artery or its
terminal branch at or immediately distal to the
bifurcation.
• The internal iliac artery is separated from the sacroiliac
joint by internal iliac vein and lumbosacral trunk.
10. Internal iliac artery...
• It descends posteromedially into the lesser pelvis,
medial to the external iliac vein and obturator
nerve and lateral to the peritoneum.
• Although variations are common , internal iliac
artery usually ends at the superior edge of the
greater sciatic foramen by dividing into anterior and
posterior division.
12. Internal iliac artery...
Internal iliac artery
Posterior divisionAnterior division
• Superior gluteal
• Iliolumbar
• Lateral sacral
• Superior vesical
• Uterine
• Inferior vesical
• Middle rectal
• Vaginal
• Inferior gluteal
• Obturator
• Internal
pudendal
V P
P
13. • In the fetal life the umbilical arteries are the main
continuation of the internal iliac arteries, passing along
the lateral pelvic wall and then ascending the anterior
abdominal wall to and through the umbilical arteries.
• Once the umbilical cord is cut , the distal part forms
fibrous cords called medial umbilical ligament or cord
of umbilical arteries.
Umbilical artery...
14. Superior vesical artery...
• Postnatally the patent part of the umbilical artery
runs anterioinferiorly between the urinary bladder
and the lateral wall of the pelvis,giving off the
SUPERIOR VESICAL ARTERY.
• It supplies the funds of the bladder by numerous
branches.
16. Uterine artery...
• ORIGIN:
• Arises either directly from the internal iliac artery or in
common with the obliterated umbilical artery.
• COURSE:
• It desends on the lateral wall of the pelvis and runs
anteriomedially in the base of the broad ligament, gives
vaginal branch then crosses the ureter anteriorly at the
level of internal Os , at about 1.5 to 2 cm lateral to it.
17. Uterine artery...
• It reaches the lateral aspect of the cervix and
ascends up giving spiral course along the lateral
uterine wall between the layers of broad ligament
and ultimately anastomoses with the tubal branch
of the ovarian artery in the mesosalpinx.
22. Iatrogenic injury to the ureter during
ligation of arteries...
• Ureter passes immediately posterior to the uterine
artery near the internal Os of the cervix or ~ 2cm
superior to the ischial spine is clinically important.
• As it is in danger of being inadvertently damaged
during abdominal hysterectomy when uterine artery is
ligated and cut to remove the uterus.
23. Iatrogenic injury to the ureter during
ligation of arteries...
• Ureter lies close in relation to ovarian vessels as
they crosses the pelvic brim.
24. Inferior vesical artery...
• ORIGIN:
• Anterior division of internal iliac artery or patent
proximal umbilical artery or from the uterine artery.
• SUPPLIES:
• Middle third of the vagina and urethra.
25. Vaginal arteries...
• ORIGIN:
• The vaginal artery arises either from the uterine artery
or from the anterior division of internal iliac artery.
• COURSE:
• In relation to the lateral fornix it descends down along
the lateral wall of the vagina.
26. Vaginal arteries...
• Numerous transverse branches are sent off anteriorly and
posteriorly anastomose with the similar branch of other side
to form azygos arteries of vagina.
• Other arteries contributing to azygos artery,
• Decending cervical artery
• Circular artery to the cervix
• Inferior vesical artery
• Internal pudendal artery.
28. Middle rectal arteries...
• ORIGIN:
• It arises either directly from the anterior division of
internal iliac artery or in common with inferior vesical
artery.
• COURSE:
• Descends in pelvis to the inferior part of the rectum.
29. Middle rectal arteries...
• SUPPLIES:
• It gives branches to the inferior rectum and to the
midvagina .
• Anastomose with the superior and inferior rectal
arteries.
30. Internal pudendal artery ...
• ORIGIN:
• Parietal branch of the anterior division of the internal
iliac artery.
• COURSE:
• It leaves the pelvic cavity along with its vein and
pudendal nerve through the greater sciatic foramen to
lie in the pudendal canal(Alcocks canal) after winding
round the ischial spine.
31. Internal pudendal artery ...
• BRANCHES:
• Inferior rectal artery.
• Numerous branches to supply the perineal and vulvar
structure including vestibular bulb and clitoris .
• Terminal branch anastomosis with the superior and
deep pudendal artery branch of femoral artery.
33. Inferior gluteal artery ...
• ORIGIN:
• Anterior division of internal iliac artery.
• COURSE:
• Exits pelvis via infra piriform port of the greater sciatic
foramen to supply the muscles and skin of the buttock
and the posterior surface of the thigh.
34. Obturator artery ...
• ORIGIN:
• Parietal branch of anterior division of internal iliac
artery.
• COURSE:
• Runs anterioinferiorly on the obturator fascia of the
lateral pelvic wall,exiting pelvis via obturator canal.
35. Obturator artery ...
• Supplies the pelvic muscle, nutrient artery to ilium
and head of femur , and muscles of medial
compartment of thigh.
• Pubic branch arises just before the obturator artery
leaves the pelvis.
36. Superior gluteal artery ...
• ORIGIN:
• Posterior division of the internal iliac artery
• COURSE:
• It passes posteriorly and runs between the lumbosacral trunk
and the anterior ramya of the s1 nerve.
• Exits the pelvis via suprapiriform portion of the greater pelvis.
37. Superior gluteal artery ...
• SUPPLIES:
• Gluteal muscles
• Piriform
•
• Tensor fascia lata.
38. Iliolumbar artery...
• ORIGIN:
• Posterior division of the internal iliac artery.
• COURSE:
• It runs superolaterally in a recurrent fashion , (turning
sharply backward relative to its source) to the iliac
fossae and gives iliac and lumbar branch.
40. Lateral sacral artery...
• ORIGIN:
• Posterior division of internal iliac artery.
• COURSE:
• The lateral sacral arteries pass medially and descend anterior
to the sacral anterior rami giving off spinal branches,which
passes through the anterior sacral foramina, and some
branches passes from the sacral canal through the posterior
sacral foramina.
41. Lateral sacral artery...
• SUPPLIES:
• The spinal meninges enclosing the roots of the sacral
nerves.
• The erector spinae muscles of the back and skin
overlying the sacrum.
42. Ligation of the internal iliac artery...
• Occasionally the internal iliac artery is ligated to
control pelvic hemorrhage.
• Because of numerous anastomosis between the
artery branch and the adjacent arteries, ligation does
not stop blood flow, but it does reduce blood
pressure allowing hemostasis to occur.
43. Ligation of the internal iliac artery...
• . Ligation of the internal iliac artery 5 cm distal to
the common iliac bifurcation will usually avoid the
pos-terior division branches (Bleich, 2007)
52. Ovarian artery...
• ORIGIN:
• It arises from the abdominal aorta inferior to the renal
artery, but considerably superior to the inferior
mesenteric artery.
• COURSE:
• It passes inferiorly adhering to the parietal peritoneum
and runs anterior to the ureter on the posterior
abdominal, wall usually giving branch to it.
53. Ovarian artery...
• As it enters the lesser pelvis it crosses the origin of the
external iliac vessels. It then runs medially in the suspensory
ligament of the ovary and enters the superolateral part of
the broad ligament(mesoovarium) dividing into ovarian and
tubal branch and supply the respective organ.
• These branches anastomose with the corresponding
branches of the uterine artery.
55. Superior rectal artery...
• ORIGIN:
• It is the direct continuation of the inferior mesentric
artery.
• COURSE:
• It crosses the left common iliac vessels and descends in
the sigmoid mesocolon to the lesser pelvis.
56. Superior rectal artery...
• At the level of S3 vertebra, the superior rectal artery divides into
two branches, which descend on each side of the rectum and
supply it as far as the internal anal sphincter.
• SUPPLIES:
• Superior part of the rectum.
• Anastomose with the middle rectal artery(br. IIA)
• And with the inferior rectal artery(br. IPA).
58. Medial sacral artery...
• ORIGIN:
• It is a small unpaired artery that usually arises from the posterior
surface of the abdominal aorta, just superior to its bifurcation but, it
may also arise from its anterior surface.
• COURSE:
• It runs we anterior to the body of the last one or two lumbar vertebra,
the sacrum and the coccyx, and ends in a series of anastomotic loops.
59. Medial sacral artery...
• It represents the caudal end of the embryonic dorsal
aorta, which reduced in size as the the tail-like caudal
eminence of the embryonic disappears.
• SUPPLIES:
• Parietal branch - lateral sacral.
• Visceral branch to the posterior part of the rectum.
• Anastomose with the superior and middle rectal artery.
60. Pelvic veins...
• The peculiarities of the pelvic veins are:
• There are tendency to form plexuses
• The plexuses anastomose freely with each other.
• The veins may not follow the course of the artery.
• They have no valves.
61. Pelvic veins...
• The pelvic venous plexuses are formed by the
interjoining veins surrounding the pelvic viscera.
• These intercommunicating veins are clinically
important.
63. Ovarian veins...
• The ovarian veins on each side begin from the
pampiniform plexus, which lies in between the
layers of broad ligament, near mesoovarium.
• Beyond the infundibulopelvic ligament, there are
two ovarian veins on each side, which ascends up
along the course of the corresponding artery.
64. Ovarian veins...
• Higher up the veins become one and ultimately
drains into left renal vein on left side and inferior
venacava on the right side.
65. Internal iliac veins...
• Venous drainage from the uterus, vagina, plexuses
chiefly drain into internal iliac vein.
• Internal iliac vein merge with the external iliac veins
to form the common iliac vein, which unite at the
level of vertebra L4 or L5 to form the inferior
venacava.
66. Internal iliac veins...
• The internal iliac vein lie posterior to the internal
iliac arteries, except that there are no veins
accompanying the umbilical arteries between the
pelvis and the umbilicus.
68. Iliolumbar veins...
• Iliolumbar veins from the iliac fossae of the greater
pelvis usually drains into the common iliac vein.
• The superior gluteal veins, the accompanying veins
of the superior gluteal arteries of the gluteal
region, are the largest tributaries of the internal
iliac vein, except during pregnancy, when the
uterine veins become larger.
69. Iliolumbar veins...
• Additional paths of venous drainage from the lesser
pelvis include the parietal median sacral vein,
superior rectal vein(to portal system).
70. Superior rectal veins...
• Venous drainage from the rectal plexus drains via
superior rectal vein into the inferior mesenteric
vein.
• The middle and the inferior rectal veins drains into
the internal pudendal vein and thence to the
internal iliac vein.
72. Applied anatomy...
• The free anastomosis between the superior rectal vein
of the portal with the middle and inferior rectal veins of
the systemic circulation explains, the liver metastasis
from the genital organ.
• The uterine veins communicate with the vaginal plexus,
thus accounting for vaginal metastases in endometrial
carcinoma or choriocarcinoma.
73. Applied anatomy...
• A free communication between pelvic plexuses with
the sacral and lumbar channels of the vertebral venous
plexuses explains not only the development of
vertebral metastases but also explains the intracranial
malignant metastases bypassing the lungs through
jugular vein .
• This collateral pathway is also related with supine
hypotension syndrome in late pregnancy.