In the abdomen, the aorta splits into the right and left common iliac arteries.
At the pelvic brim, each common iliac artery splits into the internal and external iliac arteries.
Each external iliac artery courses downward and laterally, turning into thefemoral artery, which supplies each leg.
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Anatomy
The left side of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.
Blood leaving the left ventricle passes through the aorta, the largest artery in the body.
Each common iliac artery splits again into the external iliac artery and theinternal iliac artery.
Each internal iliac artery has many branches which supply the deep organs and other structures of the pelvis.
Each external iliac artery courses downward and laterally along the border of the psoas muscles.
The inferior epigastric artery arises just above the inguinal ligament and supplies blood to the anterior abdominal wall.
Function
The external iliac artery is the chief source of blood supply to the legs.
Its branches also supply blood to the lower abdominal wall.
Clinical Significance
The external iliac artery can be affected byatherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis can cause narrowing or even blockage of the external iliac arteries.
Patients may have no symptoms, have pain on exertion (claudication), or havecritical limb ischemia.
Treatment depends on your specific symptoms as well as what coexisting diseases are present.
Quitting smoking is important.
More severe cases may require placement of astentor creation of a surgical bypass.
The most common site of true aneurysm is theabdominal aorta.
External iliac arteries are less common sites.
When iliac artery aneurysms increase in size, they may cause symptoms such as compression of adjacent structures.
Large aneurysms are at risk for rupture (bursting).
Aneurysms that are large, rapidly expanding, or cause symptoms are usually treated.
The disease may become severe and progress to total blockage of the arteries.
Patients may develop cramping in their thighs or calves that occurs with strenuous activity.
Treatment usually requires surgical repair or bypass, although stenting is also used.
The external iliac artery is also important ifkidney transplantationis being considered.
Most commonly, the surgeon connects the new kidney to the recipients external iliac artery.
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