Internal pudendal artery

The internal pudendal artery is an artery that branches off the internal iliac artery, providing blood to the external genitalia.

The internal pudendal artery is the terminal branch of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery. It is smaller in the female than in the male.

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Path

It exits the pelvic cavity through the greater sciatic foramen to enter the gluteal region.

It then curves around the sacrospinous ligament to enter the perineum through the lesser sciatic foramen.

It travels through the pudendal canal with the internal pudendal veins and the pudendal nerve.

Branches

The internal pudendal artery gives off the following branches:

Some sources consider the urethral artery a direct branch of the internal pudendal artery^[1], while others consider it a branch of the perineal artery.^[2]

In males, the internal pudendal artery also gives rise to the perforating arteries of the penis.

Additional images

See also

• Pudendal nerve
• Superficial external pudendal artery
• Deep external pudendal artery

References

1. ^ a_61/12156483 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
2. ^ Urethral+artery at eMedicine Dictionary