Inferior epigastric artery

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The inferior epigastric artery arises from the external iliac artery.

Gross anatomy

origin: from the external iliac artery superior to the inguinal ligament
course: it bends in an oblique path passing along the medial border of the abdominal inguinal ring, it then punctures the transversalis fascia and enters the rectus sheath just beneath the arcuate line
termination: anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery above the umbilicus
branches: external spermatic artery, a pubic branch and muscular branches
supply: rectus abdominis muscle; deep abdominal wall of the pubic and lower umbilical regions
relations: is accompanied by the inferior epigastric vein

Variant anatomy

can arise beneath the inguinal ligament from the femoral artery or profunda femoris artery
can arise from a common trunk with the obturator artery arising off the external iliac artery
can be doubled
can rarely arise from the obturator artery

Related pathology

~~-<p>The <strong>inferior epigastric artery</strong> arises from the <a title="External iliac artery" href="/articles/external-iliac-artery">external iliac artery</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><ul>~~
~~-<li>origin: from the external iliac artery superior to the <a title="Inguinal ligament" href="/articles/inguinal-ligament">inguinal ligament</a>~~
+<p>The <strong>inferior epigastric artery</strong> arises from the <a href="/articles/external-iliac-artery">external iliac artery</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><ul>
+<li>origin: from the external iliac artery superior to the <a href="/articles/inguinal-ligament">inguinal ligament</a>
-<li>course: it bends in an oblique path passing along the medial border of the <a title="abdominal inguinal ring" href="/articles/abdominal-inguinal-ring">abdominal inguinal ring</a>, it then punctures the <a title="transversalis fascia" href="/articles/transversalis-fascia">transversalis fascia</a> and enters the <a title="Rectus sheath" href="/articles/rectus-sheath">rectus sheath</a> just beneath the <a title="arcuate line" href="/articles/arcuate-line">arcuate line</a>
+<li>course: it bends in an oblique path passing along the medial border of the <a href="/articles/abdominal-inguinal-ring">abdominal inguinal ring</a>, it then punctures the <a href="/articles/transversalis-fascia">transversalis fascia</a> and enters the <a href="/articles/rectus-sheath">rectus sheath</a> just beneath the <a href="/articles/arcuate-line">arcuate line</a>
~~-<li>termination: anastomoses with the <a title="Superior epigastric artery" href="/articles/superior-epigastric-artery-1">superior epigastric artery</a> above the umbilicus</li>~~
~~-<li>branches: <a title="external spermatic artery" href="/articles/external-spermatic-artery">external spermatic artery</a>, a pubic branch and muscular branches</li>~~
~~-<li>supply: <a title="Rectus abdominis muscle" href="/articles/rectus-abdominis-muscle">rectus abdominis muscle</a>; deep abdominal wall of the pubic and lower umbilical regions</li>~~
~~-<li>relations: is accompanied by the <a title="inferior epigastric vein" href="/articles/inferior-epigastric-vein">inferior epigastric vein</a>~~
+<li>termination: anastomoses with the <a href="/articles/superior-epigastric-artery-1">superior epigastric artery</a> above the umbilicus</li>
+<li>branches: <a href="/articles/external-spermatic-artery">external spermatic artery</a>, a pubic branch and muscular branches</li>
+<li>supply: <a href="/articles/rectus-abdominis-muscle">rectus abdominis muscle</a>; deep abdominal wall of the pubic and lower umbilical regions</li>
+<li>relations: is accompanied by the <a href="/articles/inferior-epigastric-vein">inferior epigastric vein</a>
~~-<li>can arise beneath the inguinal ligament from the femoral artery</li>~~
~~-<li>can arise from a common trunk with the obturator artery</li>~~
+<li>can arise beneath the inguinal ligament from the femoral artery or <a title="profunda femoris artery" href="/articles/profunda-femoris-artery">profunda femoris artery</a>
+</li>
+<li>can arise from a common trunk with the obturator artery arising off the external iliac artery</li>
+<li>can be doubled</li>
+<li>can rarely arise from the obturator artery</li>
~~-<li><a title="Inguinal hernia" href="/articles/inguinal-hernia">inguinal hernia</a></li>~~
~~-<li><a title="Femoral hernia" href="/articles/femoral-hernia">femoral hernia</a></li>~~
~~-<li><a title="Corona mortis" href="/articles/corona-mortis-1">corona mortis</a></li>~~
-<li><a title="Deep inferior epigastric perforator flap reconstruction" href="/articles/deep-inferior-epigastric-perforator-flap-reconstruction">deep inferior epigastric perforator flap reconstruction</a></li>
+<li><a href="/articles/inguinal-hernia">inguinal hernia</a></li>
+<li><a href="/articles/femoral-hernia">femoral hernia</a></li>
+<li><a href="/articles/corona-mortis-1">corona mortis</a></li>
+<li><a href="/articles/deep-inferior-epigastric-perforator-flap-reconstruction">deep inferior epigastric perforator flap reconstruction</a></li>

References changed:

1. Jakubowicz M, Czarniawska-Grzesiñska M. Variability in origin and topography of the inferior epigastric and obturator arteries. Folia Morphol. (Warsz). 1996;55 (2): 121-6. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8908792">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
2. Standring S. Gray's anatomy. Elsevier. ISBN:0808923714. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0808923714">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0808923714">Find it at Amazon</a><span class="auto"></span>
3. Moore KL, Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Clinically oriented anatomy. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. ISBN:0781775256. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0781775256">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0781775256">Find it at Amazon</a><span class="auto"></span>
4. Won HS, Won HJ, Oh CS et-al. The inferior epigastric artery arising from the internal iliac artery via a common trunk with the obturator artery. Anat Cell Biol. 2012;45 (4): 285-7. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5115/acb.2012.45.4.285">doi:10.5115/acb.2012.45.4.285</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531593">Free text at pubmed</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23301197">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>

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