The internal iliac vein (hypogastric vein) begins near the upper part of the greater sciatic foramen

Greater sciatic foramen

-Boundaries:It is bounded as follows:* anterolaterally by the greater sciatic notch of the illium* posteromedially by the sacrotuberous ligament* inferiorly by the sacrospinous ligament and the ischial spine* superiorly by the anterior sacroilliac ligament...

, passes upward behind and slightly medial to the Internal iliac artery

Internal iliac artery

The internal iliac artery is the main artery of the pelvis.-Structure:The internal iliac artery supplies the walls and viscera of the pelvis, the buttock, the reproductive organs, and the medial compartment of the thigh...

 and, at the brim of the pelvis, joins with the external iliac vein

External iliac vein

The external iliac veins are large veins that connect the femoral veins to the common iliac veins. Their origin is at the inferior margin of the inguinal ligaments and they terminate when they join the internal iliac veins ....

 to form the common iliac vein

Common iliac vein

In human anatomy, the common iliac veins are formed by the external iliac veins and internal iliac veins and together, in the abdomen at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebrae, form the inferior vena cava. They drain blood from the pelvis and lower limbs....

.

Tributaries

With the exception of the fetal umbilical vein which passes upward and backward from the umbilicus

Navel

The navel is a scar on the abdomen caused when the umbilical cord is removed from a newborn baby...

 to the liver

Liver

The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...

, and the iliolumbar vein

Iliolumbar vein

The iliolumbar vein is the vena comitans of the iliolumbar artery.The obturator nerve crosses superficial to it.A single vein is found more commonly than a double vein.It drains vertebral segments four and five....

 which usually joins the common iliac vein

Common iliac vein

In human anatomy, the common iliac veins are formed by the external iliac veins and internal iliac veins and together, in the abdomen at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebrae, form the inferior vena cava. They drain blood from the pelvis and lower limbs....

, the tributaries of the Internal Iliac vein correspond with the branches of the Internal iliac artery

Internal iliac artery

The internal iliac artery is the main artery of the pelvis.-Structure:The internal iliac artery supplies the walls and viscera of the pelvis, the buttock, the reproductive organs, and the medial compartment of the thigh...

.

Receives

Description >- | gluteal vein Superior gluteal veins The Superior Gluteal Veins are venæ comitantes of the superior gluteal artery; they receive tributaries from the buttock corresponding with the branches of the artery, and enter the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen, above the Piriformis, and frequently unite before ending in the... internal pudendal vein obturator veins Obturator veins The obturator vein begins in the upper portion of the adductor region of the thigh and enters the pelvis through the upper part of the obturator foramen, in the obturator canal....

pelvis Pelvis In human anatomy, the pelvis is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the lower limbs .The pelvis includes several structures:... ; >- | lateral sacral veins Lateral sacral veins The lateral sacral veins accompany the lateral sacral arteries on the anterior surface of the sacrum and end in the hypogastric vein....

sacrum Sacrum In vertebrate anatomy the sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between the two hip bones. Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra, and bottom part with the coccyx... >- | middle hemorrhoidal vein vesical vein uterine vein vaginal veins

originate in venous plexus Venous plexus A venous plexus is a congregation of multiple veins.Examples of venous plexuses are:* Vesical venous plexus* Vaginal venous plexus* Uterine venous plexus*Pterygoid plexus... es connected with the pelvic viscera.