Branches
| Branch | Description |
| Inferior epigastric artery | Goes upward to anastomose with superior epigastric artery (a branch of internal thoracic artery). |
| Deep circumflex iliac artery | Goes laterally, travelling along the iliac crest of the pelvic bone. |
| femoral artery | Terminal branch. When the external iliac artery passes posterior to the inguinal ligament, its name changes to femoral artery. |
The abdominal aorta divides to form the "common iliac arteries" in the lower abdomen, and these vessels supply blood to the pelvic organs, gluteral region, and legs. Each common iliac artery descends a short distance and divides into an internal and an external branch. The external iliac artery provides the main blood supply to the legs. It passes down along the brim of the pelvis and gives off two large branches - the "inferior epigastric artery" and a "deep circumflex artery." These vessels supply blood to the muscles and skin in the lower abdominal wall. The external iliac artery passes beneath the inguinal ligament in the lower part of the abdomen and becomes the femoral artery.
Read more about this topic: External Iliac Artery
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