Research Article Int J Cur Res Rev | Vol 7 • Issue 16 • August 2015 14 A STUDY OF ANAMOLOUS ORIGIN OF GLUTEAL ARTERIES Amudalapalli Siva Narayana 1 , M. Pramila Padmini 2 1 Tutor, Department of Anatomy, Gitam Institute of Medical Sciences Visakhapatnam, Andhrapradesh, India; 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Gitam Institute of Medical Sciences, Visakhapatnam, Andhrapradesh, India. ABSTRACT Aim: The present study has been taken up to observe the branching pattern of internal iliac artery and its importance for the clinicians in their respective fields. Methodology: 45 pelvic halves were studied from dissected cadavers. The branches of gluteal arteries were traced carefully by separating the connective tissue surrounding the arteries. Result: In 4 cadavers, inferior gluteal artery was given off in the gluteal region, in 1 case it is given off from posterior division of internal iliac artery. In 1 case superior gluteal arose in common with internal pudendal artery. Conclusion: Vascular variations in the gluteal region are important for surgeons and anatomists. Key Words: Internal iliac artery, Gluteal arteries, Pelvic region, Internal pudendal artery Corresponding Author: Amudalapalli Siva Narayana, Department of Anatomy, Gitam Institute of Medical Sciences Visakhapatnam, Andhrapradesh, India E-mail: siva.anatomy@gmail.com Received: 15.05.2015 Revised: 11.06.2015 Accepted: 16.07.2015 INTRODUCTION Each internal iliac artery is about 4 cm long and begins at the common iliac bifurcation level with the intervertebral disc between L5 and S1 vertebrae and anterior to the sacroiliac joint. As it passes downward across the brim of the pelvis it is separated from the psoas major by the external iliac vein and has the internal iliac vein lying somewhat to its poste- rolateral side. Inferior gluteal artery is the larger terminal branch of anterior division of internal iliac artery and princi- pally supplies the buttock and the thigh. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 45 pelvic halves had been studied, of which study on 12 pelvis were also included (i.e., 24 pelvic halves) and the remaining 21 being single sides. The study was done on adult cadavers, procured for dissection for undergradu- ate students Dr. Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Medical College, Gannavaram and Gitam Medical College, Andhra Pradesh. The study was carried out in the dissection hall of the above college. The Common Iliac Artery was identified and the branches were carefully cleared till the terminal bifurcation which were External Iliac and Internal Iliac Arteries(IIA). The tributaries of internal iliac vein along with the main trunk were discarded to visualize the branches of IIA. Con- nective tissue surrounding the IIA was cleared. Parietal and visceral branches were traced. Some of the branches of IIA were traced till their exit from the pelvic cavity and are called parietal branches. The other branches were traced till they reached the specific pelvic organs and are named as visceral branches. OBSERVATION The length of common iliac artery is about 1.5cm long (fig- ure:1). The actual length of common iliac artery is 4cm. Nor- mally the division occurs between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the upper border of the sacrum. In the present study its division occurred above the level of L5. In 1 specimen the inferior gluteal artery was arising from the posterior division of internal iliac artery (figure: 2). In 1 pevic half , a common trunk from IIA has given superior gluteal artery and internal pudendal artery and inferior gluteal artery was arising from the anterior division of internal iliac artery separately (fig- ure: 3). In 4 specimens the inferior gluteal artery and internal pudendal artery were arising from a common stem which has been given off in the gluteal region (figure:4) IJCRR Section: Healthcare Sci. Journal Impact Factor 4.016