Superior gluteal artery | |
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Details | |
Source | Internal iliac artery |
Vein | Superior gluteal veins |
Supplies | Gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and tensor fasciae latae |
Identifiers | |
Latin | arteria glutaea superior |
TA98 | A12.2.15.013 |
TA2 | 4310 |
FMA | 18868 |
Anatomical terminology |
The superior gluteal artery is the terminal branch of the posterior division of the internal iliac artery. It exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen before splitting into a superficial branch and a deep branch.
The superior gluteal artery is the largest and final branch of the internal iliac artery. [1] [2] It branches from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery; [1] it represents the continuation of the posterior division.
It is a short artery. It passes posterior-ward between the lumbosacral trunk and the first sacral nerve (S1). [3] Within the pelvis, it gives branches to the iliacus, piriformis, and obturator internus muscles. Just prior to exiting the pelvic cavity, it also gives off a nutrient artery which enters the ilium. [4]
It exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen [2] [3] superior to the piriformis muscle, then promptly [3] divides into a superficial branch and a deep branch. [2] [3]
The superficial branch passes over the piriformis muscle. [2] It enters the deep surface of the gluteus maximus muscle, and divides into numerous branches. [2] Some branches supply the muscle and anastomose with the inferior gluteal artery, while others perforate its tendinous origin, and supply the integument covering the posterior surface of the sacrum, anastomosing with the posterior branches of the lateral sacral arteries. [4] The superficial branch also supplies the skin over the origin of the gluteus maximus muscle. [3]
The deep branch passes deep to the gluteus medius. It almost immediately subdivides into the superior and inferior divisions. [3]
The deep branch supplies the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fasciae latae muscles, [3] as well as the hip joint. [4]
The superior division continues the original course of the vessel, passing along the superior border of the gluteus minimus muscle to the anterior superior spine of the ilium (ASIS), anastomosing with the deep iliac circumflex artery and the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery. [3]
The inferior division crosses the gluteus minimus obliquely to the greater trochanter, distributing branches to the gluteal muscles, and anastomoses with the lateral femoral circumflex artery. [3]
Some branches pierce the gluteus minimus and supply the hip joint. [4]
Within the pelvis, it supplies the iliacus, piriformis, and obturator internus muscles, and the ilium. [4]
In the gluteal region, the superior gluteal artery supplies the gluteus maximus and overlying skin, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fasciae latae. [5] [ better source needed ]
The superior gluteal artery forms anastomoses with the inferior gluteal artery, and the medial circumflex femoral artery. [3]
The it participates in the formation of the trochanteric anastomoses, forming a connection between internal iliac and femoral artery. [5] [ better source needed ] It contributes to anastomoses at the anterior superior iliac spine and the hip joint. [5] [ better source needed ]
The gluteus maximus is the main extensor muscle of the hip in humans. It is the largest and outermost of the three gluteal muscles and makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of each side of the hips. It is the single largest muscle in the human body. Its thick fleshy mass, in a quadrilateral shape, forms the prominence of the buttocks. The other gluteal muscles are the medius and minimus, and sometimes informally these are collectively referred to as the glutes.
The gluteus medius, one of the three gluteal muscles, is a broad, thick, radiating muscle. It is situated on the outer surface of the pelvis.
The gluteus minimus, or glutæus minimus, the smallest of the three gluteal muscles, is situated immediately beneath the gluteus medius.
The greater trochanter of the femur is a large, irregular, quadrilateral eminence and a part of the skeletal system.
The piriformis muscle is a flat, pyramidally-shaped muscle in the gluteal region of the lower limbs. It is one of the six muscles in the lateral rotator group.
In vertebrate anatomy, the hip, or coxa in medical terminology, refers to either an anatomical region or a joint on the outer (lateral) side of the pelvis.
The gluteal sulcus is an area of the body of humans and anthropoid apes, described by a horizontal crease formed by the inferior aspect of the buttocks and the posterior upper thigh. The gluteal sulcus is formed by the posterior horizontal skin crease of the hip joint and overlying fat and is not formed by the lower border of the gluteus maximus muscle, which crosses the fold obliquely. It is one of the major defining features of the buttocks. Children with developmental dysplasia of the hips are born with uneven gluteal folds and can be diagnosed with a physical examination and sonogram.
The internal iliac artery is the main artery of the pelvis.
The gluteal muscles, often called glutes, are a group of three muscles which make up the gluteal region commonly known as the buttocks: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The three muscles originate from the ilium and sacrum and insert on the femur. The functions of the muscles include extension, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation of the hip joint.
In human anatomy, the muscles of the hip joint are those muscles that cause movement in the hip. Most modern anatomists define 17 of these muscles, although some additional muscles may sometimes be considered. These are often divided into four groups according to their orientation around the hip joint: the gluteal group; the lateral rotator group; the adductor group; and the iliopsoas group.
The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh is a sensory nerve of the thigh. It is a branch of the sacral plexus. It supplies the skin of the posterior surface of the thigh, leg, buttock, and also the perineum.
The inferior gluteal nerve is the main motor neuron that innervates the gluteus maximus muscle. It is responsible for the movement of the gluteus maximus in activities requiring the hip to extend the thigh, such as climbing stairs. Injury to this nerve is rare but often occurs as a complication of posterior approach to the hip during hip replacement. When damaged, one would develop gluteus maximus lurch, which is a gait abnormality which causes the individual to 'lurch' backwards to compensate lack in hip extension.
The superior gluteal nerve is a mixed nerve of the sacral plexus that originates in the pelvis. It provides motor innervation to the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, tensor fasciae latae, and piriformis muscles; it also has a cutaneous branch.
The inferior gluteal artery is a terminal branch of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery. It exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen. It is distributed chiefly to the buttock and the back of the thigh.
The lateral circumflex femoral artery is an artery in the upper thigh. It is usually a branch of the profunda femoris artery, and produces three branches. It is mostly distributed to the muscles of the lateral thigh, supplying arterial blood to muscles of the knee extensor group.
The wing(ala)of ilium is the large expanded portion of the ilium, the bone which bounds the greater pelvis laterally. It presents for examination two surfaces—an external and an internal—a crest, and two borders—an anterior and a posterior.
The deep circumflex iliac artery is an artery in the pelvis that travels along the iliac crest of the pelvic bone.
The superficial iliac circumflex artery, the smallest of the cutaneous branches of the femoral artery, arises close to the superficial epigastric artery, and, piercing the fascia lata, runs lateralward, parallel with the inguinal ligament, as far as the crest of the ilium.
The hip bone is a large flat bone, constricted in the center and expanded above and below. In some vertebrates it is composed of three parts: the ilium, ischium, and the pubis.
The gluteal lines are three curved lines outlined from three bony ridges on the exterior surface of the ilium in the gluteal region. They are the anterior gluteal line; the inferior gluteal line, and the posterior gluteal line.
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 622 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)