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The '''abdominal aorta''' terminates by branching into the '''external iliac arteries''' and the '''internal iliac arteries'''. It is these arteries that supply the hindlimb and pelvis.

The '''abdominal aorta''' terminates by branching into the '''external iliac arteries''' and the '''internal iliac arteries'''. It is these arteries that supply the hindlimb and pelvis.

 

 

 

=='''The Internal Iliac Artery'''==

=='''The Internal Iliac Artery'''==

These are paired arteries, a right and a left branch, which is one of the terminal branches of the aorta. It provides a blood supply to the pelvic viscera, the walls of the pelvic cavity and the lumbar and gluteal muscle masses.

These are paired arteries with a right and left branch and are terminal branches of the aorta. They provide a blood supply to the pelvic viscera, the walls of the pelvic cavity and the lumbar and gluteal muscle masses. The following describes the initial branches (in order) of when they branch off and arteries of particular relevance to the hindlimb will be indicated.

 

The initial branches in order of when the branch off are as follows (the highlighted vessels are ones that have direct relevance to the hindlimb);

 

The '''median sacral a.''' arises from either the left or right internal iliac and supplies the sacrum and tail. The '''internal pudendal a.''' is the primary branch of the internal iliac and provides blood to the reproductive organs and urinary tract. The '''caudal gluteal a.''' supplies the superficial gluteal muscle and the proximal 'hamstring muscles'. The '''iliolumbar a.''' is the first branch of the caudal gluteal and supplies the psoas minor, iliopsoas, sartorius, tensor fasciae latae and the middle gluteal muscles. The '''cranial gluteal a.''' arises from the caudal gluteal and passes over the greater ischiatic notch and supplies the gluteal muscles. The tail is supplied by the '''lateral caudal a.''' whilst the '''dorsal perineal a.''' supplies the perineum.

* '''Median Sacral Artery''' - can arise from either left or right internal iliac and supplies the sacrum and tail.

* Internal Pudendal Artery - the primary branch of the internal iliac it provides blood to the reproductive organs and urinary tract

* '''Caudal Gluteal Artery''' - supplies the superficial gluteal muscle and the proximal 'hamstring muscles'.

** '''Iliolumbar Artery''' - the first branch of the caudal gluteal, it supplies the psoas minor, iliopsoas, sartorius, tensor fascia lata and the middle gluteal muscles.  

** '''Cranial Gluteal Artery''' - arises from the caudal gluteal, it passes over the greater ischiatic notch and supplies the gluteal muscles.

** Lateral Caudal Artery - provides blood to the tail

* Dorsal Perineal Artery - supplies the perineum.

 

 

=='''External Iliac Artery'''==

=='''External Iliac Artery'''==

The external iliac artery is the principal artery of the hindlimb. Once it branches from the aorta it runs along the ilial body. Prior to entering the '''femoral canal''' (formed by the sartorius cranially and the gracilis and pectineus caudally) it detaches the deep femoral artery and on leaving the abdomen the external iliac continues as the femoral artery. The femoral artery continues between the adductor muscles on the medial aspect of the thigh to reach the caudal side of the stifle. Here it continues as the popliteal artery.

The external iliac artery is the principal artery of the hindlimb. Once it branches from the aorta it runs along the ilial body. Prior to entering the femoral canal (formed by the sartorius cranially and the gracilis and pectineus caudally) it detaches the '''deep femoral a.''' and on leaving the abdomen the external iliac continues as the '''femoral a.'''. The '''femoral a.''' continues between the adductor muscles on the medial aspect of the thigh to reach the caudal side of the stifle. Here it continues as the '''popliteal a.'''. There are a number of arteries that branch off the external iliac, femoral and popliteal arteries with the prominent branches highlighted below.

 

Below are the arteries in order in which they branch off the external iliac, femoral and popliteal arteries:

 

From the '''external iliac a.''', the first branch is the '''deep femoral a.''' which arises in the abdomen near the femoral canal and gives rise to the short pudendoepigastric trunk before continuing as the '''medial circumflex femoral a.'''. The pudendoepigastric trunk then branches into the '''caudal epigastric a.''' which runs cranially on the deep aspect of the straight abdominal muscles. The second branch of the '''external iliac a.''' is the '''external pudendal a.''' which runs through the inguinal canal and branches off to supply numerous reproductive structures. The third branch is the '''medial circumflex femoral a.''' and this supplies the caudal half of the rectus abdominus and the muscles of the medial thigh.

 

* '''External iliac a.'''

** '''Deep femoral a.''' - arises in the abdomen near the femoral canal and gives rise to the short pudendoepigastric trunk before continuing as the medial circumflex femoral artery.  

The first branch of the '''femoral a.'''is the '''superficial circumflex iliac a.''' which supplies the sartorius, tensor fascia lata and rectus femoris. The '''lateral circumflex femoral a.''' which branches off the '''superficial circumflex iliac a.''' supplies the quadriceps, tensor fascia lata, the superficial and middle gluteals, and the hip joint capsule. The '''proximal caudal femoral a.''' is the second branch from the '''femoral a.''', branching at the mid-thigh region and supplying the pectineus, adductor muscles and gracilis. The third branch is the '''saphenous a.''' which arises proximal to the stifle and supplies the skin on the medial aspect of the stifle. The '''saphenous a.''' also has cranial and caudal branches. This artery and its vessels lie very superficially and the cranial branch gives rise to the '''dorsal common digital aa.''' and the caudal branch gives rise to the '''plantar common digital aa.'''; both of which supply the foot. The branches following the '''saphenous a.''' in order are the '''descending genincular a.''' supplying the medial surface of the stifle, the '''middle caudal femoral a.''' supplying the distal parts of the adductor and semimembranosus muscles and the '''distal caudal femoral a.''' which is the last branch of the '''femoral a.''' before it becomes the '''popliteal a.'''. It supplies the biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gastrocnemius and the digital flexors.  

*** '''The pudendoepigastric trunk'''

**** Caudal Epigastric a. - runs cranially on the deep aspect of the straight abdominal muscles.

**** External Pudendal a. - runs through the inguinal canal and branches off to supply numerous reproductive structures.

** '''Medial circumflex femoral a.''' - its supplies the caudal half of the rectus abdominus and the muscles of the medial thigh.

 

 

* '''Femoral a.'''

** '''Superficial circumflex iliac a.''' - it supplies the sartorius, tensor fascia lata and rectus femoris.

** '''Lateral circumflex femoral a.''' - branches off with the superficial circumflex; it supplies the quadriceps, tensor fascia lata, the superficial and middle gluteals, and the hip joint capsule.

** '''Proximal caudal femoral a.''' - branches off at the mid-thigh region and supplies the pectineus, adductor muscles and gracilis.  

** '''Saphenous a.''' - arises proximal to the stifle and supplies the skin on the medial aspect of the stifle. It branches into a cranial and caudal branch. This artery and is vessels lie very superficially. The cranial branch gives rise to the '''dorsal common digital arteries''' and the caudal gives rise to the '''plantar common digital arteries'''; both of which supplie the foot.  

** '''Descending genincular a.''' - supplies the medial surface of the stifle.

** '''Middle caudal femoral a.''' - supplies the distal parts of the adductor and semimembranosus muscles.

** '''Distal caudal femoral a.''' - the last branch of the femoral artery before it becomes the politeal artery. It supplies the biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gastrocnemius and the digital flexors.  

 

** '''Cranial tibial a.''' - supplies the peroneus longus, long digital extensor and cranial tibial muscles.  

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[[Category:Musculoskeletal System - Anatomy & Physiology]][[Category:Vascular System - Anatomy & Physiology]]

**** '''Arcuate a.''' - the main blood supply to the foot.

***** '''Dorsal metatarsal aa.''' - supplies the paw dorsally.