Corpus: Obturator artery

The obturator artery is a branch of the internal iliac artery that supplies the pelvic region.

The obturator artery runs anteriorly and inferiorly on the side wall of the pelvis. In the iliac fossa it gives off several branches to supply the iliac bone and the iliac muscle, which anastomose with the iliolumbar artery. It then sends a vesical branch to the urinary bladder and a pubic branch to the pubic bone. The latter forms the corona mortis, a pronounced anastomosis with the inferior epigastric artery.

Finally, the obturator artery runs to the obturate foramen and leaves the pelvic cavity through the obturator canal. Immediately afterwards, the artery divides into an anterior and a posterior branch, which encircle the foramen and are covered by the obturator externus muscle.

Within the pelvis, the obturator artery is connected to the following structures:

• lateral: obturator fascia
• medial: ureter, ductus deferens, obturator nerve

4.1. Inside of the pelvis

• Iliac branches
• Vesical branch
• Pubic branch

4.2. Outside the pelvis

• Posterior branch
  • Acetabular branch
    • Artery of the head of the femur
• Anterior branch

The supply area of the obturator artery includes the femoral adductors as well as the proximal femur and the acetabular fossa.