Superior gluteal artery

Superior gluteal artery
Left gluteal region, showing surface markings for arteries and sciatic nerve
Internal iliac artery and some of its branches (superior gluteal artery labeled at right)
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 largest branch of the internal iliac artery, and appears to be the continuation of the posterior division of that vessel.

It is a short artery which runs backward between the lumbosacral trunk and the first sacral nerve, and, passing out of the pelvis above the upper border of the piriformis muscle, immediately divides into a superficial and a deep branch.

Within the pelvis it gives off a few branches to the iliacus, piriformis, and obturator internus muscles, and just previous to quitting that cavity, a nutrient artery which enters the ilium.

Structure

Superficial branch

The superficial branch enters the deep surface of the gluteus maximus, and divides into numerous branches, some of which 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.

Deep branch

The deep branch lies under the gluteus medius and almost immediately subdivides into two.

Of these, the superior division, continuing the original course of the vessel, passes along the upper border of the gluteus minimus 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.

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.

Some branches pierce the gluteus minimus and supply the hip-joint.

Additional images

• 
  Superior gluteal artery.
• 
  Left Levator ani from within.
• 
  The arteries of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions.
• 
  Dissection of side wall of pelvis showing sacral and pudendal plexuses.
• 
  Superior gluteal artery

See also

This article uses anatomical terminology.

• Inferior gluteal artery

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 622 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• Anatomy photo:43:13-0105 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Female Pelvis: Branches of Internal Iliac Artery"