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Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
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Obturator Artery



- Discussion:
    - artery arises from the internal iliac artery in the pelvis;
           - in the pelvis, it sends a branch to the obturator internus muscle;
    - as vessels emerge from obturator canal, they divide into anterior and posterior branches that, instead of 
           continuing down thigh, circle obturator foramen;
    - supplies obturator externus muscle and the adjacent bone;
    - posterior branch of obturator artery usually provides an acetabular branch that enters the acetabular notch and
           supplies tissue in the acetabular fossa;
           - it usually gives rise to the artery in the ligament of the head of femur;
           - see blood supply to femoral head;

    - corona mortis
           - refers to communication between either the external iliac (or deep epigastric vessels) and the obturator vessels which can occur in 10-15%;





Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Obturator Artery





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Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.