Corpus: Internal iliac vein

The internal iliac vein is a larger vein of the pelvic region that flows into the common iliac vein.

The internal iliac vein begins near the suprapiriform foramen, slightly medial to the internal iliac artery. It follows a short course before joining the external iliac vein near the iliac crest, forming the common iliac vein.

The branches of the internal iliac vein correspond to the branches of the internal iliac artery. The vein receives tributaries from the following vessels:

• Internal pudendal vein
• Superior gluteal vein
• Inferior gluteal vein
• Obturator vein
• Medial rectal veins
• Lateral sacral veins
• Vesical venous plexus (in men, vesicoprostatic venous plexus)

In women, there are additional tributaries from:

• Uterine veins
  • Uterine venous plexus
  • Vaginal venous plexus