Obturator Artery | Anatomy | Branches | Origin and Divisions | Clinical

The obturator artery is a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. The artery got its name as it passes through the obturator foramen in order to reach the medial compartment of the thigh.

The main function of the obturator artery is to supply the muscles of the pelvis and the adductors of the thigh; obturator externus, adductor magnus, adductor minimus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, pectineus and gracilis muscles. Additionally, it provides a branch that supplies the head of the femur.

Course
Obturator artery (Arteria obturatoria); Image: Paul Kim
Obturator artery (Arteria obturatoria)
The obturator artery is a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It originates in the pelvis, just below the umbilical artery. The artery then courses anteroinferiorly over the pelvic wall, being superior to the obturator vein and inferior to the obturator nerve.

The medial side of the artery is crossed by the ureter in both sexes, and additionally by ductus deferens in the males. The artery then reaches the superior part of the obturator foramen, via which it enters the obturator canal. After traversing the obturator canal, the obturator artery emerges in the medial compartment of the thigh.

Branches and supply
Head of femur (Caput femoris); Image: Liene Znotina
Head of femur (Caput femoris)
Along its course, the obturator artery gives off several branches which are usually grouped as the branches within the pelvis (pelvic branches) and branches within the thigh (extrapelvic branches).

The pelvic branches of the obturator artery are the:

The iliac branches supply the iliac bone and iliacus muscle and anastomose with the iliolumbar artery.
The vesical artery supplies the medial part of the urinary bladder. Sometimes this branch can be large enough to replace the inferior vesical artery and supply its vascular territory as well.
A pubic branch arises around the obturator canal. It runs across the pubic bone and anastomoses with its contralateral counterpart and the pubic branch of the inferior epigastric artery.
The extrapelvic branches of the obturator artery are the:

The anterior branch of obturator artery follows the inner margin of the inferior pubic ramus to anastomose with the posterior branch of femoral artery and medial circumflex femoral artery. It supplies the obturator externus muscle, hip adductors and the skin over the medial thigh.
The posterior branch supplies muscles attached to the ischial tuberosity such as the ischiocavernosus muscle.
The acetabular branch traverses the ligament of the head of the femur and supplies the femoral head. This branch usually arises from the posterior branch.