Lateral sacral arteries

Lateral sacral artery
Internal iliac artery and some branches. Lateral sacral artery labeled at upper right.
The iliac veins. (Lateral sacral labeled at bottom left.)
Details
Source	Internal iliac artery
Vein	Lateral sacral veins
Supplies	Erector spinae, Piriformis muscle, Sacral canal
Identifiers
Latin	arteriae sacrales laterales
Dorlands /Elsevier	a_61/12155741
TA	A12.2.15.006
FMA	70812
Anatomical terminology []

The lateral sacral arteries arise from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery; there are usually two, a superior and an inferior.

The superior, of large size, passes medialward, and, after anastomosing with branches from the middle sacral, enters the first or second anterior sacral foramen, supplies branches to the contents of the sacral canal, and, escaping by the corresponding posterior sacral foramen, is distributed to the skin and muscles on the dorsum of the sacrum, anastomosing with the superior gluteal.

The inferior runs obliquely across the front of the piriformis and the sacral nerves to the medial side of the anterior sacral foramina, descends on the front of the sacrum, and anastomoses over the coccyx with the middle sacral and opposite lateral sacral artery.

In its course it gives off branches, which enter the anterior sacral foramina; these, after supplying the contents of the sacral canal, escapes by the posterior sacral foramina, and are distributed to the muscles and skin on the dorsal surface of the sacrum, anastomosing with the gluteal arteries.

Iliopelvic glands (lateral view).

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)