- 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;
Clinical Considerations:
- corona mortis
- refers to communication between either the external iliac (or deep epigastric vessels) and the obturator vessels which can occur
in 10-15%;
- obturator artery is adjaent to the pubic rami and may be injured with fractures or injuries
- is situated in the fat medial to the obturator internus muscle and has to be mobilized inorder access the quadrilateral plate;
- dissection may be carried out both above and below the vessel;
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Obturator Artery