Arteries Lower Body (Female)

Abdominal Aorta

The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdomen that provides blood to the organs and tissues of the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. It descends from the thorax as a continuation of the thoracic aorta and branches several times to form the major arteries of the abdomen;

 

Right Renal Artery

The renal arteries normally arise off the side of the abdominal aorta, immediately below the superior mesenteric artery, and supply the kidneys with blood. Each is directed across the crus of the diaphragm, so as to form nearly a right angle with the aorta. The renal arteries carry a large portion of total blood flow to the kidneys. Up to a third of total cardiac output can pass through the renal arteries to be filtered by the kidneys;

 

Right Common Iliac Artery

There are two large arteries that originate from the aortic bifurcation at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. They end in front of the sacroiliac joint, one on either side, and each bifurcates into the external and internal iliac arteries. They are about 4 cm long in adults and more than a centimeter in diameter. The arteries run inferolaterally, along the medial border of the psoas muscles to their bifurcation at the pelvic brim, in front of the sacroiliac joints;

 

Right External Iliac Artery

The external iliac artery provides the main blood supply to the legs. It passes down along the brim of the pelvis and gives off two large branches – the “inferior epigastric artery” and a “deep circumflex artery.” These vessels supply blood to the muscles and skin in the lower abdominal wall;

 

Ileal Branch Ileocolic Artery

The ileocolic artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) that runs obliquely to the ileocaecal junction. It divides into an ileal branch that supplies the terminal ileum and anastomoses with the terminal SMA and a colic branch that supplies the proximal ascending colon and anastomoses with the descending branch of the right colic artery. It also gives off anterior and posterior caecal arteries, one or both of which gives off a branch that anastomoses with appendicular artery and sometimes replaces it;

 

Anterior Cecal Artery

The anterior cecal artery (or anterior caecal artery) is a branch of the ileocolic artery which supplies the anterior region of the cecum;

 

Ileocolic Artery

The ileocolic artery is the lowest branch arising from the concavity of the superior mesenteric artery. It passes downward and to the right behind  the peritoneum toward the right iliac fossa, where it divides into a superior and an inferior branch; the inferior gives rise to the appendicular artery and anastomoses with the end of the superior mesenteric artery, the superior with the right colic artery. Supplies the cecum, ileum, and appendix;

 

Colic Branch Ileocolic Artery

The colic branch of ileocolic artery is a small artery in the abdomen. The ileocolic artery of the superior mesenteric artery branches off into the ascending colic artery, the anterior and posterior cecal arteries, the appendicular artery, and the ileal branches;

 

Appendicular Artery

The appendicular artery (appendiceal artery) is a terminal branch of the ileocolic artery that descends behind the termination of the ileum and enters the mesoappendix of the vermiform appendix. It runs near the free margin of the mesoappendix and ends in branches which supply the appendix;

 

Posterior Cecal Artery

The posterior cecal artery (or posterior caecal artery) is a branch of the ileocolic artery;

 

Right Ovarian Artery

The ovarian artery is an artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the ovary in females. It arises from the abdominal aorta below the renal artery. It can be found in the suspensory ligament of the ovary, anterior to the ovarian vein and ureter;

 

Right Interior Iliac Artery

This is the main artery of the pelvis;

Right Superior Gluteal Artery

The superior gluteal artery is the largest branch of the internal iliac artery, and appears to be the continuation of the posterior division of that vessel. It is a short artery which runs backward between the lumbosacral trunk and the first sacral nerve, and, passing out of the pelvis above the upper border of the piriformis muscle, immediately divides into a superficial and a deep branch. Within the pelvis it gives off a few branches to the iliacus, piriformis, and obturator internus muscles, and just previous to quitting that cavity, a nutrient artery which enters the ilium;

 

Right Lateral Sacral Artery

The lateral sacral arteries arise from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery; there are usually two, a superior and an inferior;

 

Right Inferior Gluteal Artery

The inferior gluteal artery (sciatic artery), the smaller of the two terminal branches of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery, is distributed chiefly to the buttock and back of the thigh. It passes down on the sacral plexus of nerves and the piriformis muscle, behind the internal pudendal artery, to the lower part of the greater sciatic foramen, through which it escapes from the pelvis between the piriformis and coccygeus. It then descends in the interval between the greater trochanter of the femur and tuberosity of the ischium, accompanied by the sciatic and posterior femoral cutaneous nerves, and covered by the gluteus maximus, and is continued down the back of the thigh, supplying the skin, and anastomosing with branches of the perforating arteries;

 

Right Internal Pudendal Artery

The internal pudendal artery is one of the three pudendal arteries that branches off the internal iliac artery, providing blood to the external genitalia. The internal pudendal artery is the terminal branch of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery. It is smaller in the female than in the male;

 

Right Inferior Vesicle Artery

The inferior vesical artery is an artery in the pelvis that supplies the lower part of the bladder;

 

Right Middle Rectal Arter

The middle rectal artery is an artery in the pelvis that supplies blood to the rectum;

 

Right Inferior Rectal Artery

The inferior rectal artery (inferior hemorrhoidal artery) is an artery that supplies blood to the lower half of the anal canal;

 

Right Colic Artery

The right colic artery arises from about the middle of the concavity of the superior mesenteric artery, or from a stem common to it and the ileocolic;

It passes to the right behind the peritoneum, and in front of the right internal spermatic or ovarian vessels, the right ureter and the Psoas major, toward the middle of the ascending colon; sometimes the vessel lies at a higher level, and crosses the descending part of the duodenum and the lower end of the right kidney;

 

Middle Colic Artery

The middle colic artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery that mostly supplies the transverse colon. It arises just below the pancreas. It passes inferiorly and anteriorly between the layers of the transverse mesocolon, and divides into left and right branches. The right branch anastomoses with the right colic artery, and the left anastomoses with the left colic artery, a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery. This sequence of anastomses is frequently referred to as the marginal artery of the colon. The arches thus formed are placed about two fingers’ breadth from the transverse colon, to which they distribute branches;

 

Right Uterine Artery

The uterine artery is an artery that supplies blood to the uterus in females;

 

Right Vaginal Artery

The vaginal artery is an artery in females that supplies blood to the vagina and the base of the bladder;

Uterine Artery Plexus

In anatomy, a plexus is defined as a part of the body full of nerve branches and connections. The uterine artery plexus refers to the part of the uterus where the arteries connect and branch off into different directions. The purpose of the uterine artery is to transport healthy, oxygenated blood into the uterus;

 

Inferior Mesenteric Artery

In human anatomy, the inferior mesenteric artery, often abbreviated as IMA, is the third main branch of the abdominal aorta and arises at the level of L3, supplying the large intestine from the left colic (or splenic) flexure to the upper part of the rectum, which includes the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, and part of the rectum. Proximally, its territory of distribution overlaps (forms a watershed) with the middle colic artery, and therefore the superior mesenteric artery. The SMA and IMA anastomose via the marginal artery of the colon (artery of Drummond) and via Riolan’s arcade (also called the “meandering artery”, an arterial connection between the left colic artery and the medial colic artery). The territory of distribution of the IMA is more or less equivalent to the embryonic hindgut;

 

Left Colic Artery

The right colic artery arises from about the middle of the concavity of the superior mesenteric artery, or from a stem common to it and the ileocolic;

 

Left Uterine Artery

The uterine artery is an artery that supplies blood to the uterus in females;

 

Left Vaginal Artery

The vaginal artery is an artery in females that supplies blood to the vagina and the base of the bladder;

 

Left Common Iliac Artery

There are two large arteries that originate from the aortic bifurcation at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. They end in front of the sacroiliac joint, one on either side, and each bifurcates into the external and internal iliac arteries. They are about 4 cm long in adults and more than a centimeter in diameter. The arteries run inferolaterally, along the medial border of the psoas muscles to their bifurcation at the pelvic brim, in front of the sacroiliac joints;

 

Superior Mesenteric Artery

In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies the intestine from the lower part of the duodenumthrough two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the pancreas;

 

Left Renal Artery

The renal arteries normally arise off the side of the abdominal aorta, immediately below the superior mesenteric artery, and supply the kidneys with blood. Each is directed across the crus of the diaphragm, so as to form nearly a right angle with the aorta. The renal arteries carry a large portion of total blood flow to the kidneys. Up to a third of total cardiac output can pass through the renal arteries to be filtered by the kidneys;

 

Left External Iliac Artery

The external iliac artery provides the main blood supply to the legs. It passes down along the brim of the pelvis and gives off two large branches – the “inferior epigastric artery” and a “deep circumflex artery.” These vessels supply blood to the muscles and skin in the lower abdominal wall;

 

Marginal Artery

This is also known as the marginal artery of Drummond and artery of Drummond is an artery that connects the inferior mesenteric artery with the superior mesenteric artery. It is sometimes absent, as an anatomical variant;

 

Ascending Branch Left Colic Artery

The left colic artery is a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery that runs to the left behind the peritoneum and in front of the psoas major muscle, and after a short, but variable, course divides into an ascending and a descending branch; the stem of the artery or its branches cross the left ureter and left internal spermatic vessels. The ascending branch crosses in front of the left kidney and ends, between the two layers of the transverse mesocolon, by anastomosing with the middle colic artery; the descending branch anastomoses with the highest sigmoid artery. From the arches formed by these anastomoses branches are distributed to the descending colon and the left part of the transverse colon;

 

Left Ovarian Artery

The ovarian artery is an artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the ovary in females. It arises from the abdominal aorta below the renal artery. It can be found in the suspensory ligament of the ovary, anterior to the ovarian vein and ureter;

 

Sigmoid Artery

The sigmoid arteries, two or three in number, run obliquely downward and to the left behind the peritoneum and in front of the psoas major, ureter, and internal spermatic vessels. Their branches supply the lower part of the descending colon, the iliac colon, and the sigmoid or pelvic colon; anastomosing above with the left colic, and below with the superior hemorrhoidal artery;

 

Descending Branch Left Colic Artery

The ascending branch crosses in front of the left kidney and ends, between the two layers of the transverse mesocolon, by anastomosing with the middle colic artery; the descending branch anastomoses with the highest sigmoid artery;

 

Superior Rectal Artery

The superior rectal artery (superior hemorrhoidal artery) is an artery that descends into the pelvis to supply blood to the rectum;

 

Left Interior Iliac Artery

This is the main artery of the pelvis;

 

Left Superior Rectal Artery

In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies the intestine from the lower part of the duodenumthrough two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the pancreas;

 

Left Lateral Sacral Artery

The lateral sacral arteries arise from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery; there are usually two, a superior and an inferior;

 

Left Inferior Gluteal Artery

The inferior gluteal artery (sciatic artery), the smaller of the two terminal branches of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery, is distributed chiefly to the buttock and back of the thigh. It passes down on the sacral plexus of nerves and the piriformis muscle, behind the internal pudendal artery, to the lower part of the greater sciatic foramen, through which it escapes from the pelvis between the piriformis and coccygeus. It then descends in the interval between the greater trochanter of the femur and tuberosity of the ischium, accompanied by the sciatic and posterior femoral cutaneous nerves, and covered by the gluteus maximus, and is continued down the back of the thigh, supplying the skin, and anastomosing with branches of the perforating arteries;

 

Left Internal Pudendal Artery

The internal pudendal artery is one of the three pudendal arteries that branches off the internal iliac artery, providing blood to the external genitalia. The internal pudendal artery is the terminal branch of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery. It is smaller in the female than in the male;

 

Left Inferior Vesicle Artery

The inferior vesical artery is an artery in the pelvis that supplies the lower part of the bladder;

 

Left Middle Rectal Artery

The middle rectal artery is an artery in the pelvis that supplies blood to the rectum;

 

Left Obturator Artery

The obturator artery is a branch of the internal iliac artery that passes antero-inferiorly (forwards and downwards) on the lateral wall of the pelvis, to the upper part of the obturator foramen, and, escaping from the pelvic cavity through the obturator canal, it divides into both an anterior and a posterior branch;

 

Vaginal Artery Plexus

This is an artery in females that supplies blood to the vagina and the base of the bladder;

Left Inferior Rectal Artery

The inferior rectal artery (inferior hemorrhoidal artery) is an artery that supplies blood to the lower half of the anal canal;