Corpus: Superficial epigastric artery

The superficial epigastric artery is a branch of the femoral artery.

The superficial epigastric artery originates about 1 cm below the inguinal ligament on the anterior side of the femoral artery. It passes through the cribriform fascia at the saphenous hiatus and ascends in front of the inguinal ligament. The artery then travels upward within the superficial abdominal fascia, reaching the area of the umbilicus.

This artery branches into several small vessels that supply the skin of the lower abdominal wall and the superficial inguinal lymph nodes. It anastomoses with the artery of the same name on the opposite side and with the inferior epigastric artery.

The superficial epigastric artery is often utilized as the blood supply in the SIEA flap, a type of flap surgery used in breast reconstruction.

In Anglo-Saxon terminology, the superficial epigastric artery is sometimes referred to as the "superficial inferior epigastric artery" (SIEA). Correspondingly, the inferior epigastric artery is then referred to as the "deep inferior epigastric artery" (DIEA).