• Source: Inferior epigastric artery

In human anatomy, the inferior epigastric artery is an artery that arises from the external iliac artery.: 225  It is accompanied by the inferior epigastric vein; inferiorly, these two inferior epigastric vessels together travel within the lateral umbilical fold (which represents the lateral border of Hesselbach's triangle, the area through which direct inguinal hernias protrude.) The inferior epigastric artery then traverses the arcuate line of rectus sheath to enter the rectus sheath,: 234  then anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery within the rectus sheath.: 225 




Structure






= Origin

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The inferior epigastric artery arises from the external iliac artery, immediately superior to the inguinal ligament.




= Course and relations

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It curves forward in the subperitoneal tissue, and then ascends obliquely along the medial margin of the abdominal inguinal ring; continuing its course upward, it pierces the transversalis fascia, and, passing in front of the linea semicircularis, ascends between the rectus abdominis muscle and the posterior lamella of its sheath.
It finally divides into numerous branches, which anastomose, above the umbilicus, with the superior epigastric branch of the internal thoracic artery and with the lower intercostal arteries.
As the inferior epigastric artery passes obliquely upward from its origin it lies along the lower and medial margins of the abdominal inguinal ring, and behind the commencement of the spermatic cord.
The vas deferens, as it leaves the spermatic cord in the male, and the round ligament of the uterus in the female, winds around the lateral and posterior aspects of the artery.




= Anastomoses

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It anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery.




Clinical significance






= Hernia

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The inferior epigastric artery may lie close to an inguinal hernia, so acts as a useful landmark.




= Surgery

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The inferior epigastric artery may be damaged during laparoscopic surgery. It may also be damaged when manually finding the peritoneum beneath the rectus abdominis muscle.




Additional images







































See also


Terms for anatomical location
Hesselbach's triangle




References


This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 623 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)




External links


Anatomy figure: 35:04-07 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Incisions and the contents of the rectus sheath."
Anatomy photo:35:12-0104 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Anterior Abdominal Wall: Blood Vessels in the Rectus sheath"
Anatomy image:7282 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Anatomy image:7326 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Anatomy image:7542 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Anatomy image:7578 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
figures/chapter_25/25-9.HTM: Basic Human Anatomy at Dartmouth Medical School

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Inferior epigastric artery
• Superior epigastric artery
• Superficial epigastric artery
• Internal iliac artery
• Abdominal aorta
• External iliac artery
• Superficial circumflex iliac artery
• Inferior artery
• Cremasteric artery
• Inferior epigastric vein