Anatomical variation of obturator vessels and its practical risk: a case report from an anatomic study

Vincent Rodrigues,Venkata Ramana Vollala,Somayaji Nagabhooshana,Stany Wilfred Lobo,Seetharama Bhat,Narendra Pamidi

doi:10.1590/s1677-54492008000300015

Vincent Rodrigues, Venkata Ramana Vollala + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1677-54492008000300015

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Abstract

Obturator artery is frequently a branch of anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It has drawn attention of pelvic surgeons, anatomists and radiologists because of the high frequency of variations in its course and origin. The obturator vein is usually described as a tributary of the internal iliac vein. During routine dissection classes to undergraduate medical students we have observed obturator artery arising from external iliac artery, obturator vein draining into external iliac vein, communicating vein between obturator vein and external iliac vein and inferior epigastric artery arising from the obturator artery. The anomalous obturator vessels and inferior epigastric artery in the present case may be in a dangerous situation in pelvic surgeries that require dissection or suturing along the pelvic rim. Developmental reasons and clinical significances of the variations are discussed.

Highlights

Obturator artery, a branch of anterior division of the internal iliac artery, normally runs anteroinferiorly on the lateral pelvic wall to the upper part of the obturator foramen, and leaves the pelvis via the obturator canal, where it divides into anterior and posterior branches to supply the medial compartment of the thigh.[1]
The origin of obturator artery has been documented in 41.4% of cases from the common iliac or anterior division of internal iliac, in 25% from inferior epigastric, in 10% from superior gluteal, in 10% from interior gluteal/internal pudendal trunk, in 4.7% from inferior gluteal, in 3.8% from internal pudendal and in 1.1% from external iliac artery.[2]
Result During the anatomical approach we found that the obturator artery arising from the external iliac artery gave origin to the inferior epigastric artery, ran superficially to the external iliac vein close to the femoral ring, crossed the pelvic upper limit and went down vertically behind the superior pubic ramus on the anterior pelvic wall to enter the obturator canal

Summary

Introduction

A branch of anterior division of the internal iliac artery, normally runs anteroinferiorly on the lateral pelvic wall to the upper part of the obturator foramen, and leaves the pelvis via the obturator canal, where it divides into anterior and posterior branches to supply the medial compartment of the thigh.[1]. Anatomical variation of obturator vessels – Nagabhooshana S et al. The inferior epigastric artery normally arises from the external iliac artery posterior to the inguinal ligament. The inferior epigastric artery sometimes arises from the femoral artery, or occasionally from the external iliac artery associated with an aberrant obturator artery, and it rarely originates from obturator artery.[1]. Method This case report aims at publishing, from an anatomical dissection at Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal, India, a right variation related to obturator vessels of a 60-year-old female cadaver. The bodies were preserved by the injection of a formalin-based preservative (10% formalin) and stored at -4 oC

Result

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Discussion