Internal iliac artery: anatomy, location and function

What it is

The internal iliac artery supplies the pelvis.

Location

It arises from the common iliac artery at the pelvic brim, in front of the sacroiliac joint, descends into the pelvis and divides near the greater sciatic foramen into anterior and posterior divisions. The posterior division gives the iliolumbar, lateral sacral and superior gluteal arteries. The anterior division gives the umbilical (with superior vesical), obturator, inferior vesical (in males), uterine and vaginal (in females), middle rectal, internal pudendal and inferior gluteal arteries.

Function

It supplies the pelvic viscera, the pelvic wall, the gluteal region and the perineum.

Body system

Cardiovascular · paired (left and right)

FMA ID

FMA18810 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

• Its branching pattern is highly variable; the anterior division supplies mainly the viscera and the posterior division mainly the walls.

Clinical relevance

It can be ligated or embolised on both sides to control severe pelvic or postpartum bleeding, because collateral vessels keep the pelvic organs alive.

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

• Superior gluteal vein · cardiovascular
• Superior rectal artery · cardiovascular
• Superior rectal vein · cardiovascular
• Median sacral vein · cardiovascular
• Internal iliac vein · cardiovascular
• Sacrum · skeletal
• Obturator vein · cardiovascular
• Intervertebral disk of fifth lumbar vertebra · skeletal
• External iliac vein · cardiovascular
• Appendix · digestive