Superior Gluteal Artery

Description

Arising from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery, the superior gluteal artery courses posterolaterally along the pelvic sidewall and exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen superior to the piriformis. Within the gluteal region it divides into superficial and deep branches, with the superficial branch running posterior to gluteus maximus while the deep branch tracks laterally between gluteus medius and gluteus minimus toward the anterior and posterior gluteal lines of the ilium. Bony landmarks including the iliac crest, acetabulum, sacrum, lower lumbar vertebrae, and proximal femora provide orientation, and accompanying venous channels and elements of the lumbosacral plexus are shown in close relationship to the vascular tree. Spatially, the vessel’s extrapelvic segment lies posterior to the hip joint and superior to the sciatic nerve as it descends toward the posterior thigh. Understanding the superior gluteal artery’s route above piriformis matters in posterior pelvic trauma and in operative approaches that cross the greater sciatic notch. Injury to the deep branch is a recognized cause of gluteal hematoma and pseudoaneurysm after intramuscular injection, pelvic fracture, or hip surgery, and it can present with buttock pain and a pulsatile mass. This anatomy also underpins the vascular supply of gluteus medius and minimus, so compromise can contribute to abductor weakness and Trendelenburg gait in the postoperative setting. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and pelvic dissection labs to teach internal iliac branching patterns, in orthopedic and trauma publications discussing posterior pelvic ring fixation, and in interventional radiology or vascular surgery materials on selective internal iliac embolization. It also suits patient-safety modules on safe injection sites in the superolateral buttock relative to major neurovascular structures. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.