Atlas of Human Anatomy by Netter

Inferior vesical

artery

Inferior urinary bladder

Prostate

Seminal vesicles

Ductus deferens

From anterior division of internal iliac

Only exists in males

Uterine artery Vagina

Uterus

Uterine tubes

From anterior division of internal iliac

Terminates by anastomosing with ovarian artery

Middle rectal

artery

Inferior rectum

Seminal vesicles

+/- prostate

From anterior division of internal iliac

Vaginal artery Vagina

Cervix

Inferior urinary bladder

From uterine

Parietal

Branches

Structures Supplied Comment

Obturator artery Pelvic muscles

Head of femur

Muscles of medial compartment

thigh

From anterior division of internal iliac

Runs through obturator canal with obturator vein and artery

Occasionally can take origin from inferior epigastric artery

Superior gluteal

artery

Piriformis muscle

All three gluteal muscles

Tensor fascia lata

From posterior division of internal iliac

Exits via greater sciatic foramen above piriformis muscle

Inferior gluteal

artery

Pelvic diaphragm

Piriformis

Quadratus femoris

Gluteus maximus

Hamstring muscles

From anterior division of internal iliac

Exits via greater sciatic foramen below piriformis muscle

Internal

Pudendal Artery

Muscles and skin of anal and

urogenital triangles

Erectile bodies

From anterior division of internal iliac

Passes through greater sciatic foramen below piriformis and enters

perineum via lesser sciatic foramen

Iliolumbar arteryPsoas major

Iliacus

Quadratus lumborum

From posterior division of internal iliac

Ascends deep to common iliac and anastomoses with lower lumbar

arteries

Lateral sacral

artery

Piriformis

Contents of sacral canal

Erector spinae

From posterior division of internal iliac

Runs on piriformis

Sends branches into pelvic sacral foramina

Venous drainage of the pelvis

Veins accompany main branches of internal iliac artery

Around pelvic organs they anastomose to form venous plexuses: rectal, vesical, prostatic, uterine and vaginal

Extensive prostatic venous plexus and anastomoses occur around the pelvic viscera in a male

Extensive anastomoses and venous plexus surrounding the uterus and vagina in female

Venous plexuses communicate with each other

Veins and plexuses eventually drain into internal iliac vein

Some venous blood from the pelvis drains to the internal vertebral venous plexus

Internal iliac veins are found deep to the arteries

Become confluent with external iliac veins to form common iliac veins

A portacaval anastomosis occurs between the superior rectal vein and inferior rectal veins

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Vasculature Supply of the Pelvic Organs

Organ Blood Supply Venous Drainage

Pelvic organs

common to male

and female

Ureter Renal, gonadal, common iliac, uterine/inferior vesical,

and middle rectal arteries

Parallel to the arteries

Urinary bladder Superior and inferior vesical arteries of anterior

division of internal iliac artery

Internal iliac vein via vesical and prostatic venous

plexuses

Male pelvic

structures

Seminal glands Branches of inferior vesical and middle rectal arteriesDrain to internal iliac veins

Ductus deferens Inferior epigastric artery, inferior vesical, and middle

rectal arteries

Drain to internal iliac veins

Prostate gland Inferior vesical and middle rectal arteries Prostatic venous plexus receives the deep dorsal vein

of penis and vesical veins. It drains into the internal

iliac veins

Female pelvic

structures

Ovary Ovarian artery from abdominal aorta, which

anastomoses with the uterine artery (a branch of the

Ovarian vein drains to inferior vena cava on the right

and left renal vein on the left