Lateral sacral artery

Artery: Lateral sacral artery
Internal iliac artery and some branches. Lateral sacral artery labeled at upper right.
The iliac veins. (Lateral sacral labeled at bottom left.)
Latin	arteriae sacrales laterales
Gray's	subject #155 621
Supplies	Erector spinae, Piriformis muscle, Sacral canal
Source	Internal iliac artery
Drain	Lateral sacral veins

The lateral sacral arteries arise from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery; there are usually two, a superior and an inferior.

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.

See also

• Median sacral artery

Additional images

Iliopelvic glands (lateral view).

External links

• SUNY Labs 43:13-0104 - "The Female Pelvis: Branches of Internal Iliac Artery"
• lateral+sacral+arteries at eMedicine Dictionary

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.

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