The superior gluteal artery is the largest and final branch of 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 ...

. It is the continuation of the posterior division of that vessel. It is a short artery which runs backward between the lumbosacral trunk and the first sacral nerve. It divides into a superficial and a deep branch after passing out of the pelvis above the upper border of the piriformis muscle. Within the pelvis, it gives off branches to the iliacus,

piriformis The piriformis muscle () is a flat, pyramidally-shaped muscle in the gluteal region of the lower limbs. It is one of the six muscles in the lateral rotator group. The piriformis muscle has its origin upon the front surface of the sacrum, and in ...

, and obturator internus muscles. Just previous to exiting the pelvic cavity, it also gives off a nutrient artery which enters the ilium.

Structure

The superior gluteal artery is the largest and final branch of the

. It branches from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery. It exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen. It divides into a superficial and a deep branch.

Superficial branch

The superficial branch passes over the piriformis muscle. It enters the deep surface of the

gluteus maximus muscle The gluteal muscles, often called glutes are a group of three muscles which make up the gluteal region commonly known as the buttocks: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The three muscles originate from the ilium and sacr ...

, and divides into numerous branches. Some branches supply the muscle and anastomose with the inferior gluteal artery, while others perforate its tendinous origin, and supply the integument covering the posterior surface of the sacrum, anastomosing with the posterior branches of the

lateral sacral arteries The lateral sacral arteries is an artery in the pelvis that arises from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery. It later splits into two smaller branches, a superior and an inferior. Structure The lateral sacral artery is the seco ...

Deep branch

The deep branch lies under the gluteus medius and almost immediately subdivides into the superior and inferior divisions. The superior division continues the original course of the vessel, passing along the upper border of the gluteus minimus to the anterior superior spine of the ilium ( ASIS), anastomosing with the deep iliac circumflex artery and the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery. The inferior division crosses the gluteus minimus obliquely to the greater trochanter, distributing branches to the

gluteal muscles The gluteal muscles, often called glutes are a group of three muscles which make up the gluteal region commonly known as the buttocks: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The three muscles originate from the ilium and sa ...

and anastomoses with the lateral femoral circumflex artery. Some branches pierce the gluteus minimus and supply the hip-joint.

Function

The superior gluteal artery takes part in the trochanteric anastomoses, forming a connection between internal iliac and femoral artery. In the gluteal region, the superior gluteal artery supplies the gluteus maximus and overlying skin, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, tensor fascia lata. It contributes to anastomoses at the anterior superior iliac spine and the hip joint.

Additional images

File:AGSI.jpg, Superior gluteal artery and many of the structures it supplies. File:Gray544.png, The arteries of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions.

References

External links

* - "The Female Pelvis: Branches of Internal Iliac Artery" {{Authority control Arteries of the abdomen