Variability in origin and topography of the inferior epigastric and obturator arteries.

The inferior epigastric and obturator arteries were dissected in 75 lower limbs. In most cases (76%) the inferior epigastric artery arose from the external artery above the inguinal ligament. In the remaining cases the artery originated within the vascular lacuna. In 12% it took origin from the external iliac, in 8% from the femoral, and in 4% of cases it originated with the common trunk with obturator artery. The latter artery originated also from the inferior epigastric (2.6% of instances), and from the external iliac artery (in 1.3% of cases). In 92% of specimens the obturator artery took off from the internal iliac artery at different level.