Iliolumbar artery

The iliolumbar artery is one of three branches of the posterior division of the internal iliac artery.

Summary:

• origin: posterior division of the internal iliac artery.

  Summary:

  ·      origin – posterior division of the internal iliac artery.

  ·     

• location: pelvis

  ·     

• supply: ilium, iliacus muscle, psoas major muscle, quadratus lumborum muscle, erector spinae muscle, anterior superior iliac spine anastomoses, foramen between L5 vertebrae and sacrum.

  ·

  the L5/S1 foramen
• branches:  branches - iliac and lumbar branches

Gross anatomy:

Origin: and branches

The iliolumbar artery originates from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery. It proceeds posteriorly and the superolaterally toward the iliac fossa. Here it divides into iliac and lumbar branches.

Branches:

The iliac branch supplies the  iliac iliac fossa. The lumbar branch proceeds laterally to wards muscles of the posterior abdominal wall, which it subsequently supplies.

Supply:

The iliac branch of the iliolumbar artery supplies the ilium and iliacus muscle as well as contributing to anastomoses around the anterior superior iliac spine. 

The lumbar branch supplies the foramen between L5 and S1. It proceeds towards psoas major and quadratus lumborum, which it also supplies. It extends posteriorly and also gives supply to the erector spinae.

Variant Anatomy:

The iliolumbar artery is often quoted as the first branch of the posterior division of the internal iliac artery, however the order may vary. It may comearise directly offfrom the internal iliac artery, the common iliac artery, or off other branches of the internal iliac artery.  

Related Pathology:

The iliolumbar artery may be injured in trauma of the sacrum, lumbar spine or pelvis.