The common iliac artery is a large

artery An artery () is a blood vessel in humans and most other animals that takes oxygenated blood away from the heart in the systemic circulation to one or more parts of the body. Exceptions that carry deoxygenated blood are the pulmonary arteries in ...

of the abdomen paired on each side. It originates from the aortic bifurcation at the level of the 4th lumbar vertebra. It ends in front of the sacroiliac joint, one on either side, and each bifurcates into the external and internal iliac arteries.

Structure

The common iliac artery are about 4 cm long in adults and more than a centimeter in diameter. It begins as a branch of the

aorta The aorta ( ; : aortas or aortae) is the main and largest artery in the human body, originating from the Ventricle (heart), left ventricle of the heart, branching upwards immediately after, and extending down to the abdomen, where it splits at ...

. This is at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. It runs inferolaterally, along the medial border of the psoas muscles. It bifurcates into the

external iliac artery The external iliac arteries are two major Artery, arteries which bifurcate off the common iliac arteries anterior to the sacroiliac joint of the pelvis. Structure The external iliac artery arises from the bifurcation of the common iliac arter ...

and the internal iliac artery at the

pelvic brim The pelvic brim is the edge of the pelvic inlet. It is an approximately butterfly-shaped line passing through the prominence of the sacrum, the arcuate and pectineal lines, and the upper margin of the pubic symphysis. Structure The pelvic ...

, in front of the sacroiliac joints. 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 The pelvis (: pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of an Anatomy, anatomical Trunk (anatomy), trunk, between the human abdomen, abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also c ...

and

lower limb Lower may refer to: *Lower (album), ''Lower'' (album), 2025 album by Benjamin Booker *Lower (surname) *Lower Township, New Jersey *Lower Receiver (firearms) *Lower Wick Gloucestershire, England See also

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(as the

femoral artery The femoral artery is a large artery in the thigh and the main arterial supply to the thigh and leg. The femoral artery gives off the deep femoral artery and descends along the anteromedial part of the thigh in the femoral triangle. It enters ...

) on the corresponding side.

Relations

Both common iliac arteries are accompanied along their course by the two

common iliac vein In human anatomy, the common iliac veins are formed by the external iliac veins and internal iliac veins. The left and right common iliac veins come together in the abdomen at the level of the lumbar vertebrae, fifth lumbar vertebra, forming the ...

s, which lie posteriorly and to the right. Their terminal bifurcation is crossed anteriorly by the

ureter The ureters are tubes composed of smooth muscle that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. In an adult human, the ureters typically measure 20 to 30 centimeters in length and about 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter. They are lin ...

s. This is significant, as the bifurcation of the common iliac artery is the second point of ureteric constriction.

Function

The common iliac artery supplies the leg and the pelvic region.

Clinical significance

Constriction

The common iliac artery may become narrowed. This is most common at the aortic bifurcation.

Dilatation

Dilatation of the common iliac artery can be graded into the following categories: Last updated: Mar 27, 2017.

Additional images

Gray539.png, Bifurcation of the

and the right common iliac artery - side view. ''Hypogastric artery'' is an old term for '' internal iliac artery''. (Com. iliac. a. is visible at center bottom left.) File:Gray824.png, Deep and superficial dissection of the lumbar plexus. File:Gray1121.png, Posterior abdominal wall, after removal of the peritoneum, showing kidneys, suprarenal capsules, and great vessels. File:Common iliac artery.jpg, Common iliac arteries

References

External links

Hypogastric artery
- thefreedictionary.com * - "The Abdominal Aorta" * - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: The Abdominal Aorta and Paraaortic Nerve Plexus" * {{Authority control Arteries of the abdomen