Terminology

The vaginal artery is usually defined as a branch 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...

.

Some sources say that the vaginal artery can arise from the internal iliac artery or the uterine artery

Uterine artery

-Structure:The uterine artery usually arises from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It travels to the uterus, crossing the ureter anteriorly, reaching the uterus by traveling in the cardinal ligament....

. However, the phrase vaginal branches of uterine artery is the Terminologia Anatomica

Terminologia Anatomica

Terminologia Anatomica is the international standard on human anatomic terminology. It was developed by the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology and the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists and was released in 1998. It supersedes the previous standard, Nomina...

 term for blood supply to the vagina coming from the uterine artery.

Some texts consider the inferior vesical artery

Inferior vesical artery

The inferior vesical artery is an artery in the pelvis that supplies the lower part of the bladder.-Structure:The inferior vesical artery is a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It frequently arises in common with the middle rectal artery, and is distributed to the...

 to be found only in males, and that this structure in females is a vaginal artery.

Structure

It descends to the vagina, supplying its mucous membrane

Mucous membrane

The mucous membranes are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs...

. It can send branches to the bulb of the vestibule

Vulval vestibule

The Vulval vestibule is a part of the vulva between the labia minora into which the urethral opening and the vaginal opening open...

, the fundus

Fundus

Fundus is an anatomical term referring to the portion of an organ opposite from its opening. Examples include:* Fundus * Fundus of gallbladder* Fundus * Fundus...

 of the bladder

Urinary bladder

The urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys before disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...

, and the contiguous part of the rectum

Rectum

The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long...

.

The vaginal artery is frequently represented by two or three branches.

External links

- "The Female Pelvis: Branches of Internal Iliac Artery"