Inferior Vesical Artery

Description

Arising from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery, the inferior vesical artery is presented from an anterior aspect as it courses anteroinferiorly toward the pelvic viscera in an adult male. Distally, its branches track along the inferolateral surface of the urinary bladder near the bladder neck, with expected contributions to the prostate and seminal vesicle, structures that sit inferior and posterior to the bladder base. The vessel’s relationship to adjacent pelvic vasculature is emphasized, with smaller arteriolar branches radiating medially toward the detrusor and adjacent glandular tissue. Spatial orientation is clear. The artery remains deep to the anterior abdominal wall and inferior to the intestinal loops shown superiorly. Recognition of the inferior vesical artery matters in pelvic surgery because it represents a consistent arterial source to the bladder neck and prostate, and it can be a bleeding point during transvesical approaches or prostatectomy. Arterial variants are common, including replacement by a prominent branch of the middle rectal artery, so an anterior schematic that anchors the vessel to the internal iliac system helps with preoperative planning and intraoperative orientation. Endovascular readers also benefit, since vesical branches may be encountered during internal iliac embolization for pelvic hemorrhage and must be distinguished from rectal and pudendal distributions. Urologic anatomy teaching, pelvic vascular modules in gross anatomy, and surgical atlases covering cystectomy, TURP-related hemorrhage control, or radical prostatectomy can all cite this plate when discussing bladder neck perfusion and adjacent male pelvic glands. It also suits radiology and interventional education when correlating angiographic anatomy with pelvic organ targets and collateral pathways. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.