The internal iliac vein (hypogastric vein) begins near the upper part of the

greater sciatic foramen The greater sciatic foramen is an opening (:wikt:foramen, foramen) in the posterior human pelvis. It is formed by the sacrotuberous ligament, sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments. The piriformis muscle passes through the foramen and occupies ...

, passes upward behind and slightly medial to the

internal iliac artery The internal iliac artery (formerly known as the hypogastric artery) is the main artery of the pelvis. Structure The internal iliac artery supplies the walls and viscera of the pelvis, the buttock, the reproductive organs, and the medial com ...

and, at the brim of the pelvis, joins with the

external iliac vein The external iliac veins are large veins that connect the femoral veins to the common iliac veins. Their origin is at the inferior margin of the inguinal ligaments and they terminate when they join the internal iliac veins (to form the common i ...

to form the

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 ...

Structure

Several veins unite above the

to form the internal iliac vein. It does not have the predictable branches of the

but its tributaries drain the same regions. The internal iliac vein emerges from above the level of the greater sciatic notch It runs backwards, upwards and towards the midline to join the external iliac vein in forming the common iliac vein in front of the

sacroiliac joint The sacroiliac joint or SI joint (SIJ) is the joint between the sacrum and the ilium bones of the pelvis, which are connected by strong ligaments. In humans, the sacrum supports the spine and is supported in turn by an ilium on each side. The ...

. It usually lies lateral to the internal iliac artery. It is wide and 3 cm long.

Tributaries

Originating outside the pelvis, its tributaries are the gluteal, internal pudendal and obturator veins. Running from the anterior surface of the sacrum are the lateral sacral veins. Coming from the pelvic plexuses and appropriate to gender are the middle rectal, vesical, prostatic, uterine and vaginal veins.

Variation

On the left, the internal iliac vein lies lateral to the internal iliac artery 73% of the time. On the right, this is 93% of the time.

Function

The internal iliac veins drain the pelvic organs,

sacrum The sacrum (: sacra or sacrums), in human anatomy, is a triangular bone at the base of the spine that forms by the fusing of the sacral vertebrae (S1S5) between ages 18 and 30. The sacrum situates at the upper, back part of the pelvic cavity, ...

, and

coccyx The coccyx (: coccyges or coccyxes), commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column in all apes, and analogous structures in certain other mammals such as horse anatomy, horses. In tailless primates (e.g. hum ...

Clinical significance

thrombosis Thrombosis () is the formation of a Thrombus, blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. When a blood vessel (a vein or an artery) is injured, the body uses platelets (thrombocytes) and fib ...

disrupts blood flow in the external iliac systems, the internal iliac tributaries offer a major route of venous return from the femoral system. Damage to internal iliac vein tributaries during surgery can seriously compromise venous drainage and cause swelling of one or both legs.

Additional images

File:Gray480.png, Diagram showing completion of development of the parietal veins. File:Slide2ERVA.JPG, Pelvic contents: male. Superior view. Deep dissection.

References

External links

* Photo of model at Waynesburg College
circulation/rightinternaliliacvein
' Veins of the torso Angiology {{circulatory-stub