Revision 7 for 'Inferior epigastric artery'

The inferior epigastric artery arises from the external iliac artery and is an important artery supplying the anterior abdominal wall.

Gross anatomy

• origin: from the distal external iliac artery just superior to the inguinal ligament
• course: it bends in an oblique path passing along the medial border of the deep inguinal ring, it then punctures the transversalis fascia and ascends to enter the rectus sheath just beneath the arcuate line although this is variable
• termination: anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery above the umbilicus
• branches: cremasteric artery, pubic branch and muscular branches
• supply: rectus abdominis muscle; deep abdominal wall of the pubic and lower umbilical regions
• relations: is accompanied by the inferior epigastric vein or veins and is crossed by the ductus deferens or round ligament of the uterus

Variant anatomy

• can arise beneath the inguinal ligament from the femoral artery or profunda femoris artery
• can arise from a common trunk with the obturator artery arising off the external iliac artery
• can be doubled
• can rarely arise from the obturator artery

Related pathology

• inguinal hernia
• femoral hernia
• corona mortis
• deep inferior epigastric perforator flap reconstruction