Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)
Inferior epigastric arteries
Arteria epigastrica inferior (dextra et sinistra)
- Origin
- Arises from the external iliac artery just superior to the inguinal ligament
- Insertion
- Curves superiorly in the lateral umbilical fold, enters the rectus sheath at the arcuate line of Douglas, and anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery
- Function
- Supplies the inferior rectus abdominis muscle and lower anterior abdominal wall; defines the lateral border of Hesselbach's triangle
- Innervation
- Intercostal nerves T10-L1
- Movement & chain
- Arterial pulsatile flow
- Palpation
- Not palpated directly
- Clinical
- Key anatomical landmark distinguishing direct inguinal hernias (medial to inferior epigastric vessels) from indirect inguinal hernias (lateral to vessels). Rectus sheath hematoma (rupture of epigastric vessels; positive Fothergill's sign); Corona Mortis (lethal arterial variant between epigastric and obturator arteries).
- Segmental innervation
- T10-L1 dermatomes
- In clinical practice
- Fothergill's sign assessment for rectus sheath hematoma, laparoscopy trocar positioning guidance, DIEP flap harvest monitoring in breast reconstruction
- Region in the model
- Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)