superior gluteal artery


su·pe·ri·or glu·te·al ar·ter·y

[TA] origin, internal iliac; distribution, gluteal region; anastomoses, lateral sacral, inferior gluteal, internal pudendal, deep circumflex iliac, lateral circumflex femoral. Synonym(s): arteria glutea superior [TA]

su·pe·ri·or glu·te·al ar·te·ry

(sŭ-pēr'ē-ŏr glū-tē'ăl ahr'tĕr-ē) [TA] Origin, internal iliac; distribution, gluteal region; anastomoses, lateral sacral, inferior gluteal, internal pudendal, deep circumflex iliac, lateral circumflex femoral.
Synonym(s): arteria glutea superior.

superior gluteal artery

A large branch of the internal iliac artery; it leaves the pelvic cavity through the greater sciatic foramen, above the piriformis muscle. Its branches include a superficial branch, which supplies blood to the gluteus maximus muscle, and a deep branch, which supplies blood to the other gluteus muscles and to the greater trochanter of the femur. The superior gluteal artery anastomoses with the inferior gluteal, the deep circumflex iliac, and the lateral femoral circumflex arteries. See also: artery