The lateral branches of the common iliac artery.

The description of the common iliac artery and its branches varies significantly in various anatomic references. The results of the observations of several authors are discussed. A study of 143 cadavers in which the branches of the common iliac arteries are investigated is reported. In this study 93 cases (65%) showed no branch from the common iliac artery. In 50 cases (35%) a lateral branch was found. Out of these 50, 18 were given off from the right side, 16 from the left and 16 from both sides. The average diameter of the branch lumen was about 3 mm. The branches supplied the iliopsoas muscle (in addition to the iliolumbar artery), occasionally the ureter, lymphnodes or kidney. In operative procedures near the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta it is necessary to look for lateral branches of the common iliac artery.