Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)
Internal iliac arteries (hypogastric)
Arteria iliaca interna (Arteria hypogastrica)
- Origin
- Arises at the common iliac bifurcation opposite the sacroiliac joint
- Insertion
- Descends into the lesser pelvis to the upper margin of the greater sciatic foramen, dividing into anterior and posterior trunks
- Function
- Supplies pelvic viscera (urinary bladder, rectum, uterus/prostate), pelvic walls, perineum, erectile tissues, and gluteal musculature
- Innervation
- Inferior hypogastric plexus
- Movement & chain
- Arterial pulsatile flow
- Palpation
- Not palpated directly
- Clinical
- Life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage (managed by uterine/internal iliac artery embolization or surgical ligation), massive pelvic hemorrhage in 'open-book' pelvic ring fractures, gluteal claudication following bilateral internal iliac sacrifice.
- Segmental innervation
- S2-S4 and L5-S1 spinal levels
- In clinical practice
- Emergency transcatheter arterial embolization protocol for postpartum hemorrhage or pelvic trauma shock
- Region in the model
- Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)