The common iliac artery is a large

artery An artery (plural arteries) () is a blood vessel in humans and most animals that takes blood away from the heart to one or more parts of the body (tissues, lungs, brain etc.). Most arteries carry oxygenated blood; the two exceptions are the pu ...

of the abdomen paired on each side. It originates from the aortic bifurcation at the level of the 4th

lumbar vertebra The lumbar vertebrae are, in human anatomy, the five vertebrae between the rib cage and the pelvis. They are the largest segments of the vertebral column and are characterized by the absence of the foramen transversarium within the transverse ...

. It ends 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 ...

, one on either side, and each bifurcates into the external and

internal iliac arteries 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 comp ...

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 ( ) is the main and largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it splits into two smaller arteries (the common iliac arteries). The aorta distributes ...

. This is at the level of the 4th

. 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 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 artery. ...

and 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 comp ...

at the pelvic brim, 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 and

lower limb The human leg, in the general word sense, is the entire lower limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh or sometimes even the hip or gluteal region. However, the definition in human anatomy refers only to the section of the lower limb ...

(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 or profunda femoris artery and descends along the anteromedial part of the thigh in the f ...

) 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 fifth lumbar vertebra, forming the inferior vena ...

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

ureter The ureters are tubes made of smooth muscle that propel urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. In a human adult, the ureters are usually long and around in diameter. The ureter is lined by urothelial cells, a type of transitional e ...

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 ''

''. (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