An anomalous origin of obturator artery and its clinical importance in humans

Background: Obturator artery is one of the medium sized parietal branches of the anterior division of internal iliac artery and it supplies the medial side of the thigh. It is the most variable vessel among the branches of the internal iliac artery. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on a total of 45 pelvic halves had been studied. The material consisted of adult subjects between the ages of forty and eighty five, fr om the dissection hall of department of anatomy of Alluri Sitarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, and Andhra Pradesh. The findings were observed and recorded. Results: Origin of obturator artery was most fre- quently a direct branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery, in 16 specimens (35.5 5%). It was arising from the inferior epigastric artery in 12 specimens (26.66%). It arose from the common trunk of inferior gluteal and internal pudendal artery in 6 specimens (13.33%) etc. Conclusion: The variations in obturator artery may lead to surgical complications during pelvic surgeries requiring suturing along the pelvi c brim. The anomalies affecting the arterial patterns of the limbs are based on unusual selection of channels fr om primary capillaries. The most appropriate channel enlarges, whilst the others retract and disappear, thereby establish- ing the final arterial pattern and resulting in variations in the origin. Prior knowledge of the anatomical varia- tions may be beneficial for vascular surgeons ligating the internal iliac artery or its branches and the radiolo- gists interpreting angiograms of the pelvic region.