Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery, Lateral View

Description

Obliquely from the lateral side, the deep circumflex iliac artery is traced as it arises from the external iliac artery just superior to the inguinal ligament and then courses laterally toward the anterior superior iliac spine. From there it runs posteriorly along the internal aspect of the iliac crest, closely applied to the iliacus on the iliac fossa and deep to the abdominal wall musculature at the crest. The adjacent bony landmarks of the pelvis, including the iliac crest, acetabulum, and proximal femur at the hip joint, orient the vessel’s trajectory, while paired veins accompany the arterial branches in parallel. Surgeons encounter this vessel during anterior iliac crest bone graft harvest and during exposure for lower abdominal and pelvic approaches, where the ascending branch and its perforators can bleed briskly if transected near the crest. Injury also matters in the setting of pelvic trauma: fractures involving the iliac wing or anterior column can disrupt deep circumflex iliac branches, producing localized hematoma in the iliacus or along the inner table of the ilium. Ligation or endovascular embolization planning benefits from seeing its relationship to the external iliac system and the ASIS. A small vessel, a common nuisance. Use this illustration in gross anatomy teaching on pelvic vasculature, in surgical atlases covering iliac crest graft technique, and in radiology or trauma education when correlating CT angiography findings with expected arterial courses along the ilium. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.