Superior gluteal artery

Superior gluteal artery
Left gluteal region, showing surface markings for arteries and sciatic nerve.
Internal iliac artery and some of its branches. Superior gluteal artery labeled at right
Details
Source	Internal iliac artery
Vein	Superior gluteal veins
Supplies	Gluteus maximus muscle, Piriformis muscle, Tensor fasciae latae
Identifiers
Latin	arteria glutea superior
TA98	A12.2.15.013
TA2	4310
FMA	18868
Anatomical terminology

The superior gluteal artery (gluteal artery) is the largest branch of the internal iliac artery, and appears to be the continuation of the posterior division of that vessel.

It is a short artery which runs backward between the lumbosacral trunk and the first sacral nerve, and, passing out of the pelvis above the upper border of the Piriformis, immediately divides into a superficial and a deep branch.

Within the pelvis it gives off a few branches to the Iliacus, Piriformis, and Obturator internus, and just previous to quitting that cavity, a nutrient artery which enters the ilium.

Superficial branch

The superficial branch enters the deep surface of the glutæus maximus, and divides into numerous branches, some of which supply the muscle and anastomose with the inferior gluteal artery, while others perforate its tendinous origin, and supply the integument covering the posterior surface of the sacrum, anastomosing with the posterior branches of the lateral sacral arteries.

Deep branch

The deep branch lies under the Glutæus medius and almost immediately subdivides into two.

Of these, the superior division, continuing the original course of the vessel, passes along the upper border of the Glutæus minimus to the anterior superior spine of the ilium, anastomosing with the deep iliac circumflex artery and the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery.

The inferior division crosses the Glutæus minimus obliquely to the greater trochanter, distributing branches to the Glutæi and anastomoses with the lateral femoral circumflex artery.

Some branches pierce the Glutæus minimus and supply the hip-joint.

See also

• Inferior gluteal artery

Additional images

• 
  Left Levator ani from within.
• 
  The arteries of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions.
• 
  Dissection of side wall of pelvis showing sacral and pudendal plexuses.

External links

• Template:EMedicineDictionary
• Anatomy photo:43:13-0105 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Female Pelvis: Branches of Internal Iliac Artery"

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 622 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)