Internal pudendal artery

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Artery: Internal pudendal artery
Left gluteal region, showing surface markings for arteries and sciatic nerve.
The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery.
Latin arteria pudenda interna
Gray's subject #155 617
Supplies external genitalia, perineum
Source internal iliac artery   
Vein Internal pudendal veins
Dorlands
/ Elsevier    		 a_61/12155618

The internal pudendal artery is an artery 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.

Contents

[edit] Path

It exits the pelvic cavity through the greater sciatic foramen to enter the gluteal region.

It then curves around the sacrospinous ligament to enter the perineum through the lesser sciatic foramen.

It travels through the pudendal canal with the internal pudendal veins and the pudendal nerve.

[edit] Branches

The internal pudendal artery gives off the following branches:

In females In males Description
Inferior rectal artery Inferior rectal artery to anal canal
Perineal artery Perineal artery supplies transversus perinei superficialis muscle
Posterior labial branches Posterior scrotal branches -
Artery of bulb of vestibule Artery of bulb of penis supplies bulbourethral gland
Dorsal artery of clitoris Dorsal artery of penis -
Deep artery of clitoris Deep artery of penis to corpus cavernosum penis

Some sources consider the urethral artery a direct branch of the internal pudendal artery[1], while others consider it a branch of the perineal artery.[2]

In males, the internal pudendal artery also gives rise to the perforating arteries of the penis.

[edit] Additional images

Internal iliac artery with branches, including internal pudendal artery.
Internal iliac artery with branches, including internal pudendal artery.

Right hip bone. Internal surface.

Dissection of side wall of pelvis showing sacral and pudendal plexuses.

The deeper branches of the internal pudendal artery.

Diagram of the arteries of the penis.

The penis in transverse section, showing the bloodvessels.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a_61/12156483 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  2. ^ Urethral+artery at eMedicine Dictionary

[edit] External links