Superior Gluteal Artery, Lateral View

Description

Emerging from the internal iliac artery within the pelvis, the superior gluteal artery courses posteriorly and laterally to leave the pelvic cavity through the greater sciatic foramen, passing superior to the piriformis muscle. Along the lateral aspect of the ilium, its superficial and deep branches spread between gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, tracking toward the iliac crest and lateral hip. Nearby bony landmarks logically included in this lateral view are the sacrum, posterior ilium, and acetabular region with the femoral head seated in the socket. Venous companions and smaller arterioles follow the same corridors. Surgeons care about this vessel because its short intrapelvic segment and rapid extra-pelvic branching make it a common source of brisk hemorrhage in posterior pelvic ring fractures and acetabular trauma. The interval superior to piriformis is also the key orientation point in the deep gluteal region: the superior gluteal nerve typically accompanies the artery as it exits the greater sciatic foramen, and iatrogenic injury can produce abductor weakness and a Trendelenburg gait. Needle placement and retractors placed too deep during the anterolateral approach to the hip can stray toward the deep branch as it runs on gluteus minimus near the lateral ilium. A small vessel, big consequences. Use this lateral anatomy plate in pelvic and gluteal region teaching, orthopedic and trauma surgery texts, and procedural training modules that cover acetabular fixation, pelvic packing, and safe planes for intramuscular injection in the superolateral quadrant of the buttock. It also fits radiology primers that correlate internal iliac branch patterns with angiography for pelvic hemorrhage control. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.