Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for arteries and inguinal canal.
Bifurcation of the aorta and the right iliac arteries - side view. Hypogastric artery is an old term for internal iliac artery. (Com. iliac. a. is visible at center bottom left.)
The common iliac arteries are two large arteries, about 4cm long in adults but more than a centimetre in diameter, that originate from the aortic bifurcation and terminate when bifurcating into the external iliac artery and internal iliac artery. The common iliac artery, and all of its branches, exist as paired structures (that is to say, there is one on the left side and one on the right).
The distribution of the common iliac artery is basically the pelvis and lower limb on the corresponding side.
Both common iliac arteries are accompanied along their course by common iliac veins.
Additional images
The abdominal aorta and its branches.
Deep and superficial dissection of the lumbar plexus.
Dissection of side wall of pelvis showing sacral and pudendal plexuses.
Sacral plexus of the right side.
Abdominal portion of the sympathetic trunk, with the celiac and hypogastric plexuses.
Lower half of right sympathetic cord.
Transverse section of human embryo eight and a half to nine weeks old.
Posterior abdominal wall, after removal of the peritoneum, showing kidneys, suprarenal capsules, and great vessels.
Iliac veins
External links
Gray'ss157 - "The arteries of the lower extremity"
Gray'ss173 - "The veins of the lower extremity, abdomen, and pelvis"
