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Obturator artery

Arteries and veins of the female pelvis.
Obturator artery (Arteria obturatoria)

The obturator artery is a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. The artery got its name as it passes through the obturator foramen in order to reach the medial compartment of the thigh.

The main function of the obturator artery is to supply the muscles of the pelvis and the adductors of the thigh; obturator externus, adductor magnus, adductor minimus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, pectineus and gracilis muscles. Additionally, it provides a branch that supplies the head of the femur.

Key facts about the obturator artery
Origin Internal iliac artery
Branches Pelvis: pubic branch, iliac branches, vesical branch
Medial compartment of the thigh: acetabular branch, anterior branch, posterior branch
Supply Femoral head, obturator externus muscle, hip adductors

This article will discuss the anatomy and function of the obturator artery.

Contents
  1. Course
  2. Branches and supply
  3. Anatomical variations
  4. Sources
+ Show all

Course

The obturator artery is a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It originates in the pelvis, just below the umbilical artery. The artery then courses anteroinferiorly over the pelvic wall, being superior to the obturator vein and inferior to the obturator nerve.

The medial side of the artery is crossed by the ureter in both sexes, and additionally by ductus deferens in the males. The artery then reaches the superior part of the obturator foramen, via which it enters the obturator canal. After traversing the obturator canal, the obturator artery emerges in the medial compartment of the thigh.

Branches and supply

Along its course, the obturator artery gives off several branches which are usually grouped as the branches within the pelvis (pelvic branches) and branches within the thigh (extrapelvic branches).

The pelvic branches of the obturator artery are the:

The extrapelvic branches of the obturator artery are the:

Learn more about the arteries of the sacrum with our other articles, videos, labeled diagrams and quizzes.

Anatomical variations

The origin of the obturator artery may significantly vary among individuals. The artery may arise from the main stem or from the posterior trunk of the internal iliac artery, from the superior gluteal artery, or from the external iliac artery.

In some cases, the obturator gives off an accessory obturator artery that forms an anastomosis with the external iliac artery. This "aberrant" obturator artery is usually referred to as the corona mortis or crown of death artery. The name of the vessel testifies to the importance of this feature; during surgical procedures, it can get accidentally injured and cause significant bleeding which is particularly difficult to stop.

In approximately 20% of the population, the enlarged pubic branch of the inferior epigastric artery may replace the obturator artery and its referred to as the replaced obturator artery.

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