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AnatomyPelvis and perineumFemale pelvis and reproductive organsVaginal artery
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AnatomyPelvis and perineumFemale pelvis and reproductive organsVaginal artery

Vaginal artery

Author: Roberto Grujičić, MD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: October 30, 2023
Reading time: 3 minutes

Recommended video: Blood vessels of the female pelvis [19:24]
Arteries and veins of the female pelvis.
Vaginal artery (Arteria vaginalis)

The vaginal artery arises from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It can also arise from the uterine artery but known as a vaginal branch of the uterine artery. In some cases, the vaginal artery coming from the internal Iliac artery will anastomose with the vaginal branch of the uterine artery, if both present.

The vaginal artery is considered to be a female homologous vessel to the inferior vesical artery in males. The main function of the vaginal artery is to supply blood to the superior portion of the vaginal wall. In some cases, it can provide the inferior vesical artery which supplies the inferior portion of the urinary bladder.

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

Key facts about the vaginal artery
Origin Internal iliac artery
Branches Unnamed collateral branches, inferior vesical artery
Supply Vaginal wall, urinary bladder
Contents
  1. Origin and course
  2. Branches and supply
  3. Anatomical variations
  4. Sources
+ Show all

Origin and course

Left vaginal artery
Arteria vaginalis sinistra
Synonyms: none

The vaginal artery can originate from multiple sites as a single or duplicate vessel. The most common origin sites include the uterine (vaginal branch) and the internal iliac arteries. The vaginal artery then descends into the vagina and supplies its proximal aspect. In some cases, when the artery is larger in diameter, it can supply the majority of the vaginal wall.

Cervicovaginal branches of the uterine artery anastomose with the vaginal artery and create the azygos arteries of the vagina.

Branches and supply

Vagina
1/2
Synonyms: none

The vaginal artery provides numerous small branches that traverse the vaginal wall and provide its blood supply.

One group of authors report that the vaginal artery is a female homolog of the male inferior vesical artery, while the others report that the vaginal artery provides a small branch that carries that name. If it exists, this branch supplies the inferior portion of the urinary bladder.

To learn more about the blood vessels of the female pelvis check out our other articles, videos, quizzes and labeled diagrams.

Blood supply of the female pelvis Explore study unit

Anatomical variations

In the matter of origin and supply, the vaginal artery is very variable.

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

References:

  • Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Netter, F. (2019). Atlas of Human Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.
  • Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
  • Tubbs, R. S., Shoja, M. M., Loukas, M., & Bergman, R. A. (2016). Bergman’s comprehensive encyclopedia of human anatomic variation. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell.

Illustrations:

  • Vaginal artery (Arteria vaginalis) - Irina Münstermann

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