Anatomical Variation of Iliolumbar Artery and its Clinical Significance

Abstract

The variability of the branches of the iliac arteries is described in many scientific publications dedicated to the morphological variation of their arising and topography [1-4]. However, the majority of authors study the visceral branches, but talking about the anatomy of the parietal branches of the internal iliac artery, they are not enough described in the literature. The variability in branching of the iliolumbar artery (ILA) has significant value in anatomy, medicine and in surgery, of course, because it is the very important for nutrition of the ilium bone as well as for collateral blood supply to the lower extremity in case of occlusion of the external iliac artery via anastomosis with a deep circumflex ilium artery. The ILA is used in various surgical manipulations that approach the sacroiliac joint or connections between lower lumbar vertebrae [3,4], in procedures of embolization [5-9]. Besides, variability of the iliolumbar artery needs to keep in mind in its use as feeding pedicle in bone flaps [6].