Arteries of the Hindlimb - Anatomy & Physiology

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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 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.

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);

• 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.