Lateral sacral artery

Template:Short description Template:No footnotes Template:Main other Template:Template otherTemplate:Main other The lateral sacral arteries is an artery in the pelvis that arises from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery. It later splits into two smaller branches, a superior and an inferior.

Structure

The lateral sacral artery is the second branch of the posterior division of the internal iliac artery. It is a parietal branch.

Superior

The superior, of large size, passes medialward, and, after anastomosing with branches from the middle sacral, enters the first or second anterior sacral foramen, supplies branches to the contents of the sacral canal, and, escaping by the corresponding posterior sacral foramen, is distributed to the skin and muscles on the dorsum of the sacrum, anastomosing with the superior gluteal.

Inferior

The inferior runs obliquely across the front of the piriformis and the sacral nerves to the medial side of the anterior sacral foramina, descends on the front of the sacrum, and anastomoses over the coccyx with the middle sacral and opposite lateral sacral artery.

In its course it gives off branches, which enter the anterior sacral foramina; these, after supplying the contents of the sacral canal, escapes by the posterior sacral foramina, and are distributed to the muscles and skin on the dorsal surface of the sacrum, anastomosing with the gluteal arteries.

Function

The lateral sacral arteries supplies oxygenated blood to the cauda equina.

See also

• Median sacral artery

Additional images

• Iliopelvic glands (lateral view).
  Iliopelvic glands (lateral view).

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from Template:Wikidatathe 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918) Template:Main other

External links

• Anatomy photo:43:13-0104 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Female Pelvis: Branches of Internal Iliac Artery"