Inferior gluteal artery

Inferior gluteal artery
Left gluteal region, showing surface markings for arteries and sciatic nerve
Internal iliac artery and branches, including inferior gluteal artery
Details
Source	Internal iliac artery
Branches	Accompanying artery of ischiadic nerve
Vein	Inferior gluteal veins
Supplies	Gluteus maximus, piriformis and quadratus femoris muscles
Identifiers
Latin	Arteria glutaea inferior
TA	A12.2.15.018
FMA	18871
Anatomical terminology []

The inferior gluteal artery (sciatic artery), the smaller of the two terminal branches of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery, is distributed chiefly to the and back of the thigh.

It passes down on the sacral plexus of nerves and the piriformis muscle, behind the internal pudendal artery, to the lower part of the greater sciatic foramen, through which it escapes from the pelvis between the piriformis and coccygeus.

It then descends in the interval between the greater trochanter of the femur and tuberosity of the ischium, accompanied by the sciatic and posterior femoral cutaneous nerves, and covered by the gluteus maximus, and is continued down the back of the thigh, supplying the skin, and anastomosing with branches of the perforating arteries.

The arteries of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions.

Dissection of side wall of pelvis showing sacral and pudendal plexuses.

Inferior gluteal artery.