Arteries of the sacrum (English)

The abdominal aorta terminates by bifurcating into the left and right common iliac arteries anterior to the body of vertebra L4 which in turn each divide into internal and external iliac arteries. Arising from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery is the iliolumbar artery, a small artery which runs superolaterally along the anterior surface of the ala of the sacrum supplying structures within this region. Also arising from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery are the lateral sacral arteries. The paired lateral sacral arteries descend anterior to the anterior sacral foramina and anterior rami of the sacral spinal nerves and give off several spinal branches which travel through the sacral foramina to supply structures of the spinal cord. Arising from the posterior aspect of the abdominal aorta, just proximal to the bifurcation is the median sacral artery. This is an unpaired artery which runs along the anterior surface of the last two lumbar vertebrae and the length of the sacrum and coccyx. As this artery passes over the sacral promontory it gives off small transverse branches which anastomose with the right and left lateral sacral arteries.